Taylor Sheridan Won’t Make ‘Yellowstone’ ‘6666’ Spin-off: ‘I Would Never Fictionalize That Ranch’
The real-life 6666 Ranch was bought by Taylor Sheridan—and it’s now the focus of his next series
Key Takeaways
- Taylor Sheridan says the long-awaited ‘6666’ spin-off will never happen.
- Sheridan says he refuses to fictionalize the real Texas ranch and its cowboys.
- The real 6666 Ranch spans more than 266,000 acres and was bought by Sheridan in 2022.
In Season 4 of Yellowstone, viewers were transported from the Montana-based Dutton Yellowstone Ranch to one in Texas called 6666 (pronounced four sixes) after Jimmy Hurdstrom (Jefferson White) moved down there. In true Taylor Sheridan fashion, he used this opportunity to introduce a a new way of ranching and a new cast of characters—which seemed to be setting up a Yellowstone spin-off called 6666. For years, fans eagerly awaited news about the show, but now we finally have our answer: according to Sheridan, the 6666 spin-off is never going to happen. Below, we break down what happened and why the show will never make it to our screens.
What was the ‘Yellowstone’ spin-off ‘6666’ supposed to be about?
6666 was originally announced in February 2021, and it was actually one of the first spin-offs to be confirmed. However, the franchise’s other installments—1883, 1923 and The Madison—took priority. According to the release, the plot would have been as follows.
“Founded when Comanches still ruled West Texas, no ranch in America is more steeped in the history of the West than the 6666. Still operating as it did two centuries before and encompassing an entire county, the 6666 is where the rule of law and the laws of nature merge in a place where the most dangerous thing one does is the next thing. The 6666 is synonymous with the merciless endeavor to raise the finest horses and livestock in the world, and ultimately, where world-class cowboys are born and made. The series will be executive produced by Sheridan, John Linson, Art Linson, David Glasser, Ron Burkle and Bob Yari.”
Following that initial announcement, many fans began to wonder if the show was actually going to happen. And now, after years of waiting, we finally have our answer. According to Sheridan, there was never even a show to begin with.
“There’s never going to be one. I would never fictionalize that ranch,” Sheridan said on the Rodeo Time podcast earlier this month. “People thought that that was going to be a thing, but I would never do that….If I was gonna try and make some kind of show about 6666, now I’m making up lies, now I have to invent a drama. We can’t just watch some kid learn how to rope every episode. So now I’m trivializing and fictionalizing something where real people work, and they raise their families there. I could never do that to them. I could never do that to the cowboys who dedicated themselves and everybody that works on that ranch.”
Sheridan also touched on the fact that White was reportedly going to be the star of the spinoff, since his character spent the most time at the 6666 ranch in Yellowstone.
“I’ve actually got on my computer all the scenes of Jimmy at the 6666 pulled out and strung together, and it makes its own perfect little movie,” Sheridan said. “You watch him go there as this misfit, and leave as a man and a respected cowboy.”
Speaking of White, the actor had talked about the spinoff in the past, telling Entertainment Tonight in 2021 “I’m really excited for people to see the real, gritty, not-glamorous world of real-life cattle ranching.” As of publication, he has not commented on Sheridan’s most recent interview.
The real history behind the ‘6666’ ranch in Texas
Samuel “Burk” Burnett founded the real 6666 Ranch in 1870 after ranching on the land for nine years. To mark his territory, he branded the number “6666” on all of his cattle, which is where the name came from.
The ranch would remain in the family until 2020, when Samuel’s great-granddaughter, Anne Windfohr Marion, died. It was then sold to Sheridan and his wife, Nicole Muirbrook for over $320 million in 2022.
The ranch currently has over 266,000 acres and has been used as the filming location in Yellowstone.
“I’m very protective of the Sixes, and it’s a big responsibility to be the person who has to protect that brand. So I have to be very, very careful with it,” Sheridan said on Rodeo Time.
Conversation
All comments are subject to our Community Guidelines. Woman's World does not endorse the opinions and views shared by our readers in our comment sections. Our comments section is a place where readers can engage in healthy, productive, lively, and respectful discussions. Offensive language, hate speech, personal attacks, and/or defamatory statements are not permitted. Advertising or spam is also prohibited.
