We’re Starting To Think This ‘Yellowstone’ Spin-off Is Never Happening

Ever since Kevin Costner‘s departure from Yellowstone, the franchise has been in a state of flux. With the flagship series having ended, the Taylor Sheridan drama continues to expand via prequels, sequels, and spin-offs that continue the Dutton saga into various new times and locations. But no matter if you’re most excited about Y: Marshals, 1944, The Madison, or the yet untitled Rip-and-Beth spin-off, there’s one project that seems to have been straight-up left in the dust: 6666. Frankly, we’re worried it’s never going to see the light of day.

Taylor Sheridan Set Up ‘6666’ in ‘Yellowstone’ but Has Yet to Deliver

The entirety of Jimmy Hurdstrom’s (Jefferson White) story arc in the fourth season of Yellowstone revolved around sending him down to the Four Sixes (6666) Ranch in King County, Texas. By the end of the season, he even received John Dutton’s (Costner) surprise blessing to leave the Yellowstone behind forever, taking the “Y” brand with him to his new Texan home. Along for the ride was newcomer Emily (Kathryn Kelly), who soon hitched herself to Jimmy as the two married sometime off-screen between the fourth and fifth seasons. With Jimmy’s return in Season 5, it appeared that the show was once again setting up something down south (even Sheridan’s Landman series contains some references to it), but we still have yet to hear any new updates.

For a good chunk of Season 5B, Rip Wheeler (Cole Hauser) and his Montana-based crew spent time on the Four Sixes. Having brought their cattle down to graze and eventually sell, the real-life working ranch — which spans 350,000 acres, according to a 1998 article by Texas Monthly — was utilized by the production for more than just cattle. In some sense, it appeared that Season 4 and Season 5B were a sort of test-run for how 6666 might operate concurrently with the actual ranch itself, which Sheridan personally owns. We’re not yet sure if those tests were deemed successful by either the network or Sheridan, but our hope is that this is only the beginning of the Yellowstone Universe’s venture into the Lone Star State.

Jimmy’s ‘6666’ Spin-off Would Be a Welcome Departure From ‘Yellowstone’s Dutton Story

Whether you love the original series or its spin-offs, there’s only so much we can say about Yellowstone‘s Dutton family that hasn’t already been said. For three shows now (and eight seasons total), we’ve watched the Duttons first settle in Montana in 1883 until they eventually gave up their land at the end of Season 5. While some of the sequel shows (and upcoming prequels) plan to further expand on their story, 6666 was the one Yellowstone project not directly cemented within the Dutton story. Yes, it would still connect to Yellowstone, but with no Dutton at the helm, 6666 has the freedom to expand beyond the reach of Montana’s most notorious cattle family — and I think that’s a good thing.

Love him or hate him, Jimmy represents a brand of cowboy that is nothing like his Dutton counterparts. Having been involved in illegal activities previously, he had pulled himself up by his bootstraps, bettered himself, and found both love and purpose. His time at the Four Sixes, among legends like the late Buster Welch, has made him a better man all around, and a spin-off further exploring Jimmy and Emily’s life together may be just what the Yellowstone universe ordered. If that doesn’t tickle everyone’s fancy, Jimmy doesn’t even have to be the leading character here. The show could easily introduce another cowboy protagonist with centuries of Texas blood pumping through his veins, all while keeping Jimmy and Emily as a part of the story in the background.

There Hasn’t Been Any Real News on This ‘Yellowstone’ Spin-Off in Years

But when was the last time we actually heard any news about 6666? Well, that would’ve been back in 2023, which doesn’t exactly bode well for the series. However, Sheridan’s reasoning is understandable. When speaking about a variety of Paramount projects, the filmmaker told The Hollywood Reporter that 6666 was “on hold,” and for good reason. “That, for a number of reasons, needs a unique level of special care, because this is a real place with real families working here,” Sheridan remarked. “You have to respect the lineage. I’ve told [Paramount] to be patient.” It’s certainly good to hear that, no matter how long this spin-off takes to formulate, Sheridan is committed to maintaining the integrity of the working ranch while still leveraging it for film projects in the future.

The filmmaker’s own love of Texas is likely why he is not only so dedicated to filming more in the Lone Star State (no wonder he wants The Texas Chainsaw Massacre franchise), but also in telling the story of this historic, Western ranch. “There’s a kindness in Texas that I find lacking in many other parts of the country,” Sheridan told Cowboys & Indians in 2020. “Anywhere you go in Texas, there is a genuine concern for another person’s well-being. I just think it creates a structure of society that is very harmonious.” This, too, could be a way in which 6666 can rise above many of the filmmaker’s own “Sheridan-isms” and Yellowstone‘s pitfalls. If Sheridan can tap into the standard Texan way of life, using Jimmy, Emily, or others as stand-ins for those who live there, we could experience a part of the country that most have no comprehension of. Plus, it would be great to see a Texas-based series from Sheridan that doesn’t make one’s skin crawl the way Landman often does.

However long it takes for 6666 to arrive, we know that Sheridan is taking the utmost care in showcasing cattle country as it was intended to be seen. Whether you have a personal connection to Texas or are fascinated by this world that we’ve only seen glimpses of on Yellowstone, there’s no denying that 6666 has the potential to be a unique installment in the greater Yellowstone brand. Who knows? Considering their similar locales, 6666 may even cross over with Landman in the future. Either way, we’re still hoping that Sheridan can get this show on the road. If anyone can bring the world of Texas cowboys to life, it’s him.