McConaughey Says Yellowstone Spinoff Talks With Sheridan Still Alive

Iowa fans of the hit neo-Western drama Yellowstone have reason to keep hope alive: Matthew McConaughey says he and series creator Taylor Sheridan are still talking about a possible spinoff, despite years of silence on the project.

In a recent podcast interview, McConaughey revealed that conversations with Sheridan about a potential Yellowstone offshoot are ongoing. The actor said,

“Taylor and I have spoken and have continued to have conversations about what [it could be] and if that would be whatever. But nothing's real yet.”

The comments mark the first significant update on the long-rumored collaboration since 2023, when reports first surfaced that McConaughey was being considered to lead a modern continuation of the franchise.

What happened to the McConaughey Yellowstone spinoff?

Rumors of McConaughey's involvement emerged in 2023, around the same time Kevin Costner departed the flagship series amid a reported feud with Sheridan. Paramount executive Chris McCarthy confirmed McConaughey's involvement at the time, and Sheridan told The Hollywood Reporter that the actor was a “natural fit” for his Yellowstone universe.

However, the project has remained in limbo since then. While McConaughey expressed uncertainty about whether the show will ever materialize, the fact that both he and Sheridan remain in discussions suggests it has more life than other shelved spinoffs.

What other Yellowstone spinoffs are in the works?

The Yellowstone universe has expanded significantly since the original series debuted in 2018. Two prequels, 1883 and 1923, have concluded, while sequels Dutton Ranch and Marshals aired their first seasons in 2026 on Paramount+ and CBS respectively.

Sheridan has also extended his Montana TV universe with The Madison, starring Michelle Pfeiffer on Paramount+.

One project that won't be moving forward is 6666, set at Sheridan's Four Sixes Ranch in Texas. Sheridan officially shut the door on that spinoff in August 2026, making McConaughey's project one of the few still-possible shows in the franchise's pipeline.

Could Sheridan's Paramount exit affect the Yellowstone franchise?

The bigger question hanging over the Yellowstone universe is Sheridan's future with Paramount. The executive producer plans to leave for a billion-dollar deal with NBCUniversal when his contract expires at the end of 2028.

Paramount will retain the rights to the series Sheridan created for the streamer, meaning shows like Dutton Ranch could continue without his creative input. However, new Yellowstone projects would need to be developed before Sheridan's departure, since Paramount owns the franchise's intellectual property permanently.

That puts a clock on the McConaughey collaboration. If the spinoff is going to happen, it would need to come together before the end of 2028.

What does this mean for Iowa viewers?

For Iowa's large base of Yellowstone fans, the news is encouraging. The state has consistently ranked among the top markets for the series, and a McConaughey-led spinoff would bring fresh energy to the franchise.

While nothing is confirmed, the fact that Sheridan and McConaughey are still talking suggests the project has a pulse. As McConaughey put it,

“Nothing's real yet.”

But for fans who have been waiting years for this collaboration, that's more than they had before.