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Matthew McConaughey Is Officially Joining The Yellowstone Universe
Matthew McConaughey is officially set to join the Yellowstone universe. The popular Paramount Network show, which follows the owners of the titular ranch in Montana and has spawned numerous spinoffs including1883 and 1923, returned for its fifth season this past fall, with Yellowstone season 5, part 2 previously expected to return in the summer of 2023. However, this has been put in doubt by conflict behind the scenes between Kevin Costner and co-creator Taylor Sheridan, with reports suggesting the show may lose its lead star and tap Matthew McConaughey for a successor series.
Now, months after the reports first surfaced, McConaughey is officially joining the Yellowstone universe. The news was confirmed by the head of Paramount Media Networks, Chris McCarthy, in a recent interview with The Hollywood Reporter. McConaughey is set to star in an "extension" of Yellowstone, which is expected to move forward regardless of whether Costner returns to the original show for the second half of season 5.
The Kevin Costner Yellowstone Drama Explained
Earlier this year, reports surfaced detailing a behind-the-scenes dispute between the Yellowstone star and showrunner. Costner, who plays the family patriarch John Dutton and recently won a Golden Globe for his performance, allegedly wants to limit his workload to just one week of filming on season 5's remaining eight episodes. This has reportedly been a “source of frustration” for Sheridan and has caused "morale problems" among the Yellowstone cast. Costner's representatives say the reports are patently false. Nevertheless, Yellowstone season 5, part 2 has yet to begin filming and still does not have an official air date.
With Costner's Yellowstone return in doubt, a contingency plan was put in place with McConaughey set to lead a spinoff, which is now officially moving forward regardless of Costner's future. The McConaughey project being described as an "extension" also seems to suggest that original Yellowstone stars may be returning to the show as previously reported. McConaughey is the perfect casting to lead a Yellowstone spinoff and in the case that Costner does not return, Sheridan's successful Yellowstone universe will have essentially replaced one Oscar winner with another.
