Yellowstone Shocks Fans With BIG NEWS About Season 6
- Posted on July 30, 2025
The Legal Storm Brewing Over Yellowstone’s Future
As Yellowstone gallops toward the finale of its fifth season, what was once thought to be the end of Taylor Sheridan’s Western epic is now proving to be a fresh starting line—and potentially a legal battlefield. Paramount+ recently confirmed that a follow-up series featuring two fan-favorite characters, Beth Dutton (Kelly Reilly) and Rip Wheeler (Cole Hauser), is in active development. However, this move is raising red flags with NBCUniversal, the current streaming rights holder of Yellowstone via Peacock.
More Than Just A Spinoff?
The heart of the potential legal fracas lies in whether this new series should be considered a spinoff or a direct continuation—essentially, a stealth Season 6. Despite Paramount branding it as a new project, the fact that several mainstay characters are returning, and that the storyline appears to pick up where Season 5 ends, makes it legally murky.
To add fuel to the fire, this weekend’s upcoming episode—long understood to be the series finale—has been marketed primarily as a season finale. That distinction could prove pivotal. If the original series is not officially ending, NBCU may argue that they still hold streaming rights to any continuation under the Yellowstone brand.
The “Yellowstone” Name Carries Heavy Weight
Further complicating the issue are rumors that the new series might carry Yellowstone in its title. While not officially billed as Yellowstone Season 6, early indications suggest the marketing strategy may seek to cash in on the legacy and name recognition of the franchise. That poses a direct challenge to NBCU’s streaming exclusivity, as any new content bearing the Yellowstone name could fall within their contracted streaming rights.
This branding overlap could ignite a contentious dispute, particularly if Paramount+ uses the name prominently to retain viewership momentum. NBCU’s concern is not unfounded—Yellowstone remains a top performer on streaming charts, and any new show perceived as a continuation may rightfully belong on Peacock, at least in NBCU’s view.
A High-Stakes Branding Tug-of-War
At the center of this looming legal clash is a simple, yet high-stakes, question: where does Yellowstone end and its spinoff begin?
The crux of the debate will likely rest on how closely tied the upcoming series is to the mothership. If it walks, talks, and feels like Yellowstone, a court may well determine that NBCU is owed distribution rights or at least a significant say in its deployment.
Paramount+ Faces A Critical Pivot Point
For Paramount+, this isn’t just about intellectual property—it’s about franchise control. The Sheridan-verse is one of their flagship storytelling ecosystems, with 1883, 1923, and the proposed 6666 ranch series already populating its slate. However, this particular show poses unique risks because it blurs the line between sequel and spin-off in ways that other series have not.
Should legal tensions escalate, Paramount+ could be forced into one of two unattractive options:
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Rebrand the new series entirely, stripping it of the Yellowstone name and altering the character lineup.
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Negotiate a streaming rights agreement with Peacock, potentially undercutting Paramount’s exclusive platform strategy.
Neither path is ideal. The former weakens audience connection and brand continuity. The latter surrenders a valuable asset to a competitor in a fiercely contested streaming marketplace.
Our Take: Watch This Space
With franchise loyalty at a fever pitch and legal interpretations hanging in the balance, Yellowstone‘s “final” ride may prove anything but. Fans can expect more of Beth and Rip’s fiery chemistry, but whether they’ll stream it on Paramount+ or Peacock may depend on lawyers more than showrunners.
As of now, all eyes are on this weekend’s pivotal finale—both for the story it tells and the precedent it may set.
The Legal Storm Brewing Over Yellowstone’s Future As Yellowstone gallops toward the finale of its fifth season, what was once thought to be the end of Taylor Sheridan’s Western epic is now proving to be a fresh starting line—and potentially a legal battlefield. Paramount+ recently confirmed that a follow-up series featuring two fan-favorite characters, Beth…