Taylor Sheridan has quite the imagination.
Yellowstone fans are gearing up for the second part of the final season, which finally premieres — after a lot of drama and speculation — in just under two months. With more episodes of the American neo-Western drama on the way, two prequels, and one forthcoming spinoff, all this content begs the question of where all the ideas came from. Are they entirely invented by show creator Taylor Sheridan, based on a true story, or somewhere in between? We investigated to find out.
Here’s everything you need to know about the true story behind Yellowstone.
Is Yellowstone based on a true story?
The short answer is no. While Yellowstone National Park exists in real life and the show is filmed on a real Montana ranch, the show is fictional. Taylor Sheridan and John Linson created the show, which premiered in 2018 on Paramount and stars Kevin Costner. While some people criticize the show’s depiction of Montana natives for its corruption and violence, others say it’s pretty realistic. After all, nearly all ranching operations in the United States are family-owned.
Is Yellowstone based on a book? What is Yellowstone based on?
You won’t find any books with the Dutton drama because Sheridan and Linson drafted the story from their imaginations, drawing inspiration from family-owned ranches out West and Sheridan’s own experiences. The avid horseman owns two ranches in Texas and even provided the horses for the production. Many consider him one of the most important Western storytellers. In one episode, he played a horse trader since the other actors couldn’t handle a horse like he could. In 2021, Sheridan was inducted into the Texas Cowboy Hall of Fame. So, while the show is not based on a true story, it’s clear the creators drew heavily from their own lives.
Are the other Taylor Sheridan series based on true stories?
Believe it or not, Sheridan creates his shows entirely from his imagination. While they aren’t based on true stories, they’re always well-researched and authentic. The prolific writer is currently working on 11 projects.
Where is Yellowstone streaming and when does season 5, part 2 premiere?
All seasons are streaming exclusively on Peacock. You can also rent the show on platforms like YouTube, Amazon Prime Video, and Apple TV. The second part of Yellowstone season 5 will arrive on November 10 on Paramount. Fans haven’t seen a new episode since January of 2023!
