The fictional universe of Yellowstone is set to grow even bigger with an upcoming spin-off series of the popular Western drama that will see Matthew McConaughey star in the lead role.

Reports of the McConaughey-led Yellowstone spin-off first emerged in February. Now, Paramount has confirmed that the series is moving forward.

In an interview with THR, ViacomCBS President Chris McCarthy acknowledged the new spin-off and explained that's meant to either replace or coexist with the original Yellowstone series, depending on Kevin Costner's decision. However, McCarthy emphasized that the spin-off will proceed with or without Costner's return to the original series.

Earlier this year, sources close to the production of Yellowstone revealed that the cast and crew of the original series were becoming increasingly frustrated with Kevin Costner's scheduling conflicts. The 68-year-old actor is the primary reason for the delays in the release of the second half of the fifth season after shifting his focus back to directing his upcoming film, Horizon.

Kevin Costner initially agreed to shoot for 65 days for the fifth season of Yellowstone, but he requested to shoot for 50 days for the first half and only a week for the second half. However, due to the success of previous spin-offs, the show's creator and showrunner, Taylor Sheridan, is reportedly considering ending the original series and putting more emphasis on the McConaughey-led spin-off.

While the main series of Yellowstone has been instrumental in the success of the franchise, the addition of Hollywood A-list actors, including Harrison Ford, Helen Mirren, and Sam Elliott in spin-off shows, has given Paramount the freedom to shift focus away from the original series.

Furthermore, the prequel series 1923 has been renewed for a second season, indicating that Sheridan is placing significant trust in the potential of spin-offs.

As of now, there is no news on the release date for the second half of Yellowstone Season 5, which is set to have only six episodes. The first eight episodes of the season premiered on November 13 of last year.