Is Taylor Sheridan expanding the Yellowstone universe too fast, or is there still something special left to explore?

Taylor Sheridan has turned Yellowstone into one of television’s most successful and sprawling franchises, but his latest move has divided the fanbase. Now, the creator is coming back with another spinoff that too, with Luke Grimes’ Kayce Dutton taking the lead.

Many longtime viewers are beginning to wonder if, at this rate, Sheridan will bring out a sequel on literally anything.

His take on the fictional Dutton family turned the show into a record-breaking series. Currently, fans feel that the franchise is starting to stretch too thin with spin-offs popping up for almost every character. And they did not hold back their thoughts on Reddit.

Taylor Sheridan is turning Yellowstone into a spin-off factory

Just when the Yellowstone universe reached its peak, Taylor Sheridan is back with another surprise – and not everyone is quite on board. CBS has announced that Y: Marshals, a brand-new spinoff starring Luke Grimes as Kayce Dutton, is in the works via Collider. This has made fans on the internet wonder if the creator is pushing quantity over quality.

Luke Grimes in Yellowstone | Credits: Paramount+

And while Kayce has long been a fan favorite of the franchise, the new update hasn’t been met with universal excitement. The same was seen on Reddit as well, where fans detailed their real thoughts about Grimes being a part of the new spin-off.

With 1883, 1923, and more on the way – including 1944 and 2024 – now with Y: Marshals, some viewers are questioning whether there’s a compelling narrative left to tell or if Sheridan is simply turning every character into a franchise opportunity.

In Y: Marshals, Kayce Dutton trades the ranch for a federal badge, and the series follows him as he joins an elite US Marshals unit tasked to handle crimes across Montana. CBS has already ordered 13 episodes, and filming will officially start this summer with a planned mid-2026 prime Sunday night slot.

This also marks a significant shift from the Yellowstone series as it’s the first series to premiere directly on network television rather than streaming on Paramount+.

But even with such exciting updates, fans’ concerns remain, and while some are eager to see more of Kayce, others feel that the emotional weight and uniqueness of Yellowstone are being lost in a sea of spinoffs.

Y: Marshals is fine, but what about 1944?

While fans are having mixed feelings about Y: Marshals, fans want to know more about his other spin-off, titled 1944. In this, the creator is all set to take us into the World War II era and would be a follow-up to 1923. Moreover, it’s expected to dive deeper into the lives of the Dutton family and the challenges they face in a changing world.

Brandon Sklenar in Season 2 of 1923 | Credits: Paramount+

While major details about the same are still unclear, here’s what we know so far. 1944 will pick up about two decades after the events of 1923.

While fans said goodbye to some major characters in the 1923 season 2, there’s a strong chance we’ll get to see Spencer Dutton again via The Hollywood Reporter. He added:
Give me some gout, a little hunch and some salt and pepper. I’ll gravel the voice up a bit. If it comes around, I’d love to do it. I really would. I definitely don’t want to say goodbye to Spencer. I love that guy.
Played by actor Brandon Sklenar, who also has a keen interest in returning to the part, fans will have to wait for further confirmation. Although a release date for the same hasn’t been announced, based on the previous timeline of previous spinoffs, 1944 will likely debut sometime in 2026 on Paramount+.