Taylor Sheridan, 56, Says He’ll Never Make the ‘Yellowstone’ ‘6666’ Spin-Off—Here’s Why
Taylor Sheridan reveals why he refuses to fictionalize the real 6666 Ranch for TV
Key Takeaways
- Taylor Sheridan explains why he refuses to turn his real 6666 Ranch into a TV drama.
- The long-awaited ‘6666’ spin-off was announced in 2021 but will never happen.
- Sheridan says Jimmy’s ‘Yellowstone’ journey at the 6666 Ranch already feels complete.
If you’ve been holding out hope for the long-rumored Yellowstone spin-off set on the legendary 6666 Ranch, we have some bittersweet news. Creator Taylor Sheridan has officially closed the door on the project—but once you hear why, you might just love him more for it.
Speaking on the Aug. 18 episode of the Rodeo Time podcast, Sheridan explained that after years of speculation, he simply can’t bring himself to fictionalize the real Texas ranch he now owns—or the real cowboys and families who call it home.
“There’s never going to be one. I would never fictionalize that ranch,” Sheridan, 56, said. “People thought that that was going to be a thing, but I would never do that.”
Why Sheridan changed his mind about the spin-off
The decision comes down to something we all understand: respect for the people you love. Sheridan and his wife, Nicole Muirbrook, purchased the historic 6666 Ranch in Texas for over $320 million in 2022, and owning the real place changed everything for him creatively.
“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,” Sheridan explained. “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.”
He also shared a candid conversation with producer David Glasser about the financial reality of ranch life.
“[Glasser] said, ‘If we buy it, can we make any money from it?’ And I said, ‘No, it’s a ranch—we’re going to lose our -ss!’” Sheridan recalled.
Rather than turning the ranch into a profit engine through television, Sheridan has chosen to protect it. “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,” he said.
The spin-off fans had been waiting for
For devoted “Yellowstone” viewers, this news marks the end of a long wait. The 6666 spin-off was originally announced in February 2021, making it one of the very first spin-offs confirmed in the Sheridan universe. But it kept getting pushed back as other prequels and companion series —1883, 1923, The Madison, Dutton Ranch and Marshals—took priority.
The premise, as described in the original series announcement, sounded like classic Sheridan storytelling: “Founded when Comanches still ruled West Texas, no ranch in America is more steeped in the history of the West than the 6666… 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.”
Fans were first introduced to the 6666 Ranch during Season 4 of Yellowstone, when the beloved character Jimmy Hurdstrom, played by Jefferson White, moved from the Dutton ranch in Montana down to Texas. That storyline was widely seen as a setup for the eventual spin-off, and White was expected to lead it.
Jimmy’s story is already complete—in Sheridan’s own way
While the spin-off won’t happen, Sheridan revealed he’s preserved Jimmy’s journey in a special way—for himself, at least.
“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.”
It’s such a touching image—the creator watching his character’s arc unfold as a private film. For fans who grew attached to Jimmy’s transformation from troubled young ranch hand to confident cowboy, that description alone may offer some closure.
Where Jefferson White stands
Jefferson White, 36, has spoken about the spin-off multiple times over the years. Back in 2021, he told Entertainment Tonight he was excited for viewers to see “the real, gritty, not-glamorous world of real-life cattle ranching.”
More recently, White gave a rare update to the Daily Mail earlier this year. Asked if he’d still be returning for 6666, he replied honestly: “Not that I know of now.” But the actor also expressed gratitude for the experience he did have.
“I kept my fingers crossed, but also, I’d be grateful if I got to do more and I’m grateful for what I got to do,” White said. “I don’t want to be selfish. We got a lot of great mileage out of that show.”
The real history of the 6666 Ranch
Part of what makes Sheridan’s decision so meaningful is the genuine legacy of the ranch he’s protecting. The 6666 Ranch was founded in 1870 by Samuel “Burk” Burnett, who had already been ranching the land for nine years. He branded his cattle with the number “6666,” which is how the ranch got its distinctive name.
The property remained in the Burnett family for 150 years, passing down through generations until 2020, when Samuel’s great-granddaughter, Anne Windfohr Marion, died. That’s when Sheridan and his wife stepped in as the new owners. Today, the 6666 Ranch spans more than 266,000 acres and has been used as a filming location for Yellowstone.
Ready for more? Subscribe to our YouTube channel for video podcasts, health tips and uplifting stories designed for women 40, 50, 60 and beyond.
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.
