Yellowstone may be getting a new spin-off on CBS featuring a popular Dutton! Here’s what we know so far!
Yellowstone was easily one of the biggest hit shows of the last few years. The Taylor Sheridan drama starred Kevin Costner as John Dutton, owner of a massive Montana ranch who fought to keep it alive against various threats, which often included his own children.
The show was a massive success that inspired numerous prequel spin-offs, such as 1883 and 1923. However, after a very public (and very complex) falling out between Sheridan and Costner, Costner left the show halfway through its fifth and final season.
More Yellowstone spin-offs are in the works
The show wrapped up with plans for a spin-off starring Kelly Reilly’s Beth and Cole Hauser’s Rip. There are also plans for a show set in the same universe, The Madison, starring Michelle Pfeiffer and a spinoff starring Matthew McConaughey.
Now, TVLine reports that CBS is reaching out for a planned spinoff that would focus on Kayce (Luke Grimes). CBS has yet to confirm this, but it’s an intriguing idea. It’s presumed that Kelsey Asbille and Brecken Merrill would also join, as Kayce’s wife Monica, and their son, Tate.
It’s an intriguing choice for a spinoff that could be an entertaining one for fans.
Why a Kayce spin-off can work
The youngest son of the Dutton clan, Kayce had a tense relationship with his father. The key issue was Kayce getting girlfriend Monica pregnant and defying John’s demands to give up the child. Monica resided on the Broken Rock Reservation, long-time rivals to the Duttons. That led John to literally brand his own son.
Kayce later became a Navy SEAL, which left him with some PTSD. After returning home and marrying Monica, Kayce became a horse trainer and found himself caught in the conflict between the Duttons and Broken Rock.
The final episodes had Kayce taking up leadership of the Yellowstone ranch and concluded with him and Monica still together. That leaves some potential for a spinoff.
The idea for a Kayce Yellowstone spin-off series
According to Deadline, CBS is approaching this show as a procedural (no surprise) that will touch on Kayce’s time as a SEAL. There’s also the chance it plays into Kayce’s experience as a livestock commissioner as he handled investigations into illegal activities.
So, this show may have Kayce once more become an investigator or commissioner, handling various problems across Montana. It’s a spin on the usual CBS procedural to be more about the ranch life and the livestock business than pure crime.
The show would likely have a different tone as Yellowstone was known for its adult language and situations. That would have to be toned down for CBS yet still retain the flavor of the main Yellowstone series.
Kayce is one of Yellowstone’s more popular characters, and Grimes has what it takes to be a leading man. He’s given Kayce a nice air of tough but warm demeanor, dedicated to Monica and smarter than he looks. Putting him in a leadership position is a natural progression of his story arc.
This is still early in development, and it’s unclear if CBS will give this the go-ahead. However, the idea of a Yellowstone spinoff coming to CBS with a popular character in the lead seems an inevitable expansion of this franchise.
Yellowstone streaming on Peacock.