As many eyes remain on how the final seasons of the mainline show will pan out, a Yellowstone spinoff show has reportedly found its lead star. The neo-Western franchise, co-created and run by Taylor Sheridan, has chronicled the various generations of the Dutton family building their ranch neighboring the titular national park, even as they deal with such exterior forces as neighboring Native American tribes and land developers. Since beginning in 2018, Yellowstone has expanded to include two prequel spinoffs, including the Tim McGraw-led 1883 and the Harrison Ford and Helen Mirren-starring 1923.
A recent report from The InSneider (via JoBlo) states that Kurt Russell is currently being eyed to lead the charge on a Yellowstone spinoff show. At the time of writing, it’s not been made clear which of the multiple spinoffs currently in development the Golden Globe and Emmy nominee is being considered for, nor has the extent of these casting talks been made known.
Kurt Russell Would Continue Yellowstone’s Best Casting Trend
Though the Yellowstone franchise touches on more than just the Western genre, having actors familiar with it does lend extra power to their casting.
Given the report of Russell’s negotiations are low on details, he could very well be up for any of the three Yellowstone spinoff shows currently in various stages of development. A present-day set 6666 has been stuck in development hell since 2022, even as the mainline show has continued to expand the Four Sixes Ranch storyline in Texas, while sequels to the main show and 1922 are said to be expanding on the Dutton family’s story, with Matthew McConaughey having been in talks for the former for a year.
Regardless of which show he ultimately signs on to, Russell’s casting would continue one of the Yellowstone franchise’s best casting trends of bringing on Western genre vets for various characters. Beyond Kevin Costner’s John Dutton in the mainline show, 1883 saw the introductions of such genre legends as Sam Elliott, Billy Bob Thornton and Graham Greene, while 1923’s Ford, Timothy Dalton and Robert Patrick, among others, held plenty of experience in the genre. Though the Yellowstone franchise touches on more than just the Western genre, having actors familiar with it does lend extra power to their casting.
Among the various Yellowstone spinoffs in development, 1944 could very well be the perfect fit for Russell to join the hit franchise and introduce a new Dutton family patriarch. Though the star has yet to explore the Prohibition-era of storytelling, Sheridan’s trademark melding of the Western genre with various time periods could make for an intriguing twist on the characters Russell is best known for playing. Additionally, having as powerhouse of an actor as Russell would be a good further expansion of the Dutton family tree to match the strength of McGraw and Ford before him to build towards Costner’s John Dutton.