Yellowstone Sequel Could Lose Original Trio, Matthew McConaughey & Michelle Pfeiffer Being Eyed to Lead
Taylor Sheridan’s Yellowstone franchise is aiming to go from strength to strength following the end of its main series, but things could already be getting bumpy for its next major project, as the three leads and the studio have reportedly reached an impasse over salaries. According to Puck News, the Yellowstone trio Kelly Reilly (Bethany “Beth” Dutton), Cole Hauser (Rip Wheeler), and Luke Grimes (Kayce Dutton) are expected to return for a sequel series, but the project could already be in major trouble as the three stars have not yet signed on and are looking for a pay rise.
As per the report, Reilly, Hauser, and Grimes, who would lead the sequel show following the much-publicized departure of Kevin Costner, have asked for significant raises for the next show and “It’s getting ugly.” Both Reilly and Hauser have arguably become the faces of the Yellowstone universe now that Costner is gone, with the stars looking for around $1.25 million per episode.
Such a paycheck would make them some of the highest-paid actors on TV, but given the success of Yellowstone, and the studio’s desire to continue to expand the show into spinoffs, they would surely be worth every cent.
Despite this, the negotiations have reportedly become difficult, with the company putting on the pressure and setting a deadline for when a decision and a deal must be made. Should a deal not materialize, it has been said that the series could move forward without them, though this would surely come as a major blow for the project and the idea of the original stars acting as a “bridge” between the old and the new.
Matthew McConaughey & Michelle Pfeiffer Being Eyed to Lead Yellowstone Sequel
The sequel series, tentatively titled 2024, is eyeing Academy Award winner Matthew McConaughey for the lead role. While it has previously been reported that he was confirmed to star, this new report pours some cold water on the idea, revealing that McConaughey has not yet officially signed on, and that he will not do so “until he sees a script.”
The report also reveals that a female lead is being circled to star alongside McConaughey: Academy Award nominee Michelle Pfeiffer. She is reportedly now in talks to star in the Yellowstone sequel series, with the report adding that she is actually closer to making a deal than McConaughey is.
Pfeiffer, who is best known for her roles in the likes of Batman Returns, Scarface, Dangerous Liaisons, and more recently in the Marvel Cinematic Universe, “should either close a deal or walk away in the next week or two,” the report states.
Outside the main Yellowstone series, the franchise has already begun to expand significantly. Alongside the (hopefully) Matthew McConaughey-led spinoff, several prequel series’ have already begun in 1883 and 1923, the latter of which stars Helen Mirren and Harrison Ford.
