After 8 Years, Beth & Rip’s Yellowstone Spinoff Making History For Taylor Sheridan Franchise
hupchaoAs Landman Season 2 finishes up production, Taylor Sheridan is quietly reshaping the future of his flagship Western saga. The long-awaited Yellowstone follow-up — centered on fan-favorites Rip Wheeler and Beth Dutton — has officially started filming in Ferris, Texas.
But while anticipation is sky-high, the new project — working under the placeholder title Rio Palo, and maybe called The Dutton Ranch, with Dani Weinstein of 101 Studios confirming the Rio Palo title is only temporary and subject to change — is already stirring controversy among fans for two surprising reasons: it may not be designed as a long-running series, and it seems like it’s abandoning Montana, the home where the series belongs.
That’s a significant departure from Sheridan’s usual approach. From 1883 to 1923 and the ongoing saga of Landman, most of Sheridan’s projects are designed as multi-season commitments or part of a larger interconnected universe. Fans expecting Rio Palo to carry on Yellowstone’s legacy across years may instead get a more limited, self-contained chapter.
Yellowstone Moves to Texas
Production has landed in Ferris, a small town about 20 miles south of Dallas. In a statement, Ferris City Manager Brooks Williams called it “a proud and fun moment for Ferris,” signaling how much excitement the project has already generated for the local community.
But whether or not Ferris is actually the setting seems less likely. In the final episode of Yellowstone, Rip, Beth and Carter moved to Dillon, Montana. But they’ve always had business down in Texas, so maybe that’s where the action is? It remains to be seen. Moving the Montana show to Texas would be another bold move, though.
The biggest draw here is clear: fans finally get more of Rip and Beth, whose ferocious, complicated love story has been the emotional heart of Yellowstone. But the possibility of Rio Palo being a one-off project, rather than a multi-season epic, is already dividing viewers. Some are welcoming the idea of a focused, tightly told continuation, while others worry it cuts short the future of the Duttons’ most compelling couple.
Rio Palo, or The Dutton Ranch is expected to debut on Paramount+ in 2026.
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