It Appears Matthew McConaughey Is Out At His Long-Rumored Yellowstone Spin-off

 

“The Dutton story continues, picking up where Yellowstone leaves off in another epic tale.”

For more than a year, speculation has run rampant about a new Yellowstone spin-off. In November 2023, an announcement from Paramount revealed the premiere date for the final episodes of Yellowstone and also confirmed that the new spin-off show will appear following the flagship show’s conclusion. Along with the news that the second half of season five of Yellowstone will hit screens in November 2024, Paramount revealed that two new shows set in the Dutton universe are in the works: a prequel, 1944, and the apparent spin-off, 2024.

However, the latest news from Paramount may indicate the 2024 has not only changed its title, but also switched things up with a very different cast. Despite long-percolating rumors that Matthew McConaughey would be joining the Dutton-verse in 2024 (more on that below), an August story by TVLine has revealed that a Yellowstone spin-off currently titled Madison is in the works to follow Yellowstone‘s final episodes. The network officially announced Madison a few days later, along with the news that Michelle Pfeiffer would star. Among other cast members said to be close to signing on for the show are Kurt Russell and Suits‘s Patrick J. Adams—McConaughey’s name is notably absent.

Variety has also reported that Madison is indeed the current iteration of the show developed as 2024. It is reportedly scheduled to begin filming later this month.

Here’s what we know so far:

Matthew McConaughey was long rumored to star

Since long before the show had a working title, McConaughey was said to be eyeing a lead role on 2024. In a March 2023 interview with the Hollywood Reporter, Paramount Media Networks head Chris McCarthy confirmed that McConaughey would be joining the Yellowstone universe. However, as the months dragged on with no official casting announcements, fans began to wonder whether the star will indeed be taking on a Dutton mantle after all.

According to a January 2024 report, McConaughey was supposedly growing frustrated with the long contract negotiations process and was even reconsidering his participation. An unnamed insider supposedly told Life & Style, “No deal has ever taken this long for Matthew.” They explained that the actor, who was reportedly asking for $2.5 million per episode, had been unable to accept other projects that could potentially conflict with the show’s filming and “doesn’t have clarity on when exactly this job would even start.”

Show creator Taylor Sheridan is also supposedly a factor. The writer, who was said to have butted heads with former Yellowstone headliner Kevin Costner, has “a reputation for being a jerk with a ‘God complex,'” the insider stated, adding, “Matthew doesn’t particularly like behind-the-scenes drama.”

In February 2024, Puck‘s Matthew Belloni reported that McConaughey “is still the top choice to star, but reports of his commitment to the project are overstated.” Belloni added that, per the star’s agent, he has refused to sign on to the project until he can see a script, which had not been provided yet. As of May 2024, that issues still didn’t appear to have been resolved, as another Puck story confirmed that the actor still need to be “satisfied with the creative direction before signing on.”

When news of Madison, the apparent new version of 2024, broke in August 2024, McConaughey was not among the names rumored to be in casting contention.

Cole Hauser, Kelly Reilly, and Luke Grimes were also in talks to join the series.

Deadline reported in May 2023 that McConaughey “is expected to be joined by handful of original Yellowstone cast members,” on 2024. Exactly which stars those might be has been a source of interest for fans ever since, and with the roster potentially including three fan-favorites from the original show: Cole Hauser, who plays the brooding ranch hand Rip, Kelly Reilly, who stars as the sole Dutton daughter Beth, and Luke Grimes, who plays the youngest Dutton son, Kayce.

According to a February 2024 article by Puck, the show wasn’t originally designed to include characters from the main show, but after it was decided to end Yellowstone‘s flagship, the concept was reworked to allow some of the actors to move on to the spin-off. However, in true Yellowstone fashion, this was followed by some behind the scenes friction over the issue.

Per Puck, the stars asked for a higher payday to return to the spin-off (they will all, apparently, also be paid for the now-cancelled season six of Yellowstone as part of previous contact stipulations) with claims suggesting that the performers were seeking as much as $1.5 million per episode. Initially, the publication reported that negotiations would be completed in mid-February, which would determine if any of the actors would return for the spin-off, however, that timeline came and went with no confirmation. As of late May 2024, Puck reported that things has been resolved, and all three were wrapping up deals to join the series, however no further announcements have been forthcoming since then.

Like McConaughey, none of the current Yellowstone actors were mentioned when Madison was announced in August 2024.

Michelle Pfeiffer was rumored to join the cast

Along with the other casting news, Puck reported in February 2024 that Michelle Pfeiffer was in talks to take on the role of the female lead in the series, though no other information on the character was revealed. By May 2024, the publication reported that both Pfeiffer and McConaughey remained favorites for the series, though neither were officially onboard.

By August, TVLine reported that Pfeiffer would indeed be involved in the Yellowstone universe, but in a series titled Madison. Shortly thereafter is was confirmed that Pfeiffer would lead the new series.

What will the series be about?

In a 2023 interview with THR, Yellowstone creator Taylor Sheridan confirmed that the show would have “Yellowstone” in the title (2024 was only announced as a working title; Madison, notably, does not include the flagship IP’s name) he said, “My idea of a spinoff is the same as my idea of a prequel—read into that what you will.” The publication reported that Sheridan nodded when asked if that meant that the new series would be a stand-alone story. “There are lots of places where a way of life that existed for 150 years is slamming against a new way of life, but the challenges are completely different. There are a lot of places you can tell this story.” However, Sheridan also admitted that he had only worked out “the broadest strokes” of the spin-off at the time.

As for McConaughey himself, Sheridan commented, “He seems like a natural fit. We had a few conversations over the years, and spitballed a few ideas. Then he started watching Yellowstone and responded to it. He was like, ‘I want to do that.’ And by ‘that’ he meant diving into a raw world clashing up against the modern world. And then I said, ‘Buddy, that we can do.’”

McConaughey has shared his thoughts on John Dutton

In June 2023, the actor opened up for the first time with his thoughts about the original series and its main character, John Dutton, played by Kevin Costner. “One way you could explain Yellowstone and Costner’s role is what will men do to protect land and family in a world that is trying to encroach?” McConaughey reportedly said on the Lex Fridman Podcast. “I admire that simplicity of right and wrong.”

He added, “It’s a little bit of, ‘If the law ain’t handling this, I am.’ And then it is, ‘The law’s not going to handle it, therefore I am.’ Then it’s, ‘I’m handling this. The law? Talk to them when you get to them. I’m handling this.'”

When will the series debut?

2024 was set to premiere following the Yellowstone finale, but no specific date has been announced—if indeed Madison is the final version of that show, it’s likely to take up that time slot. With the original series not set to return until November 2024, and rumors suggesting the final block of episodes could number up to ten, it’s possible that the spin-off might not appear until 2025.

We’ll update this as soon as we learn more about the Yellowstone sequel.