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YELLOWSTONE

Cowboys meet capitalism in blockbusting western saga Yellowstone, starring Kevin Costner (right). It’s been a huge success in the States and as the fourth series gallops onto Paramount+ this week, Yellowstone is set to lasso more Brits in to enjoy its gunfights and feuds, with Montana’s glorious Big Sky Country as a backdrop.

Set in the present day, Yellowstone concerns the fate of a ranch owned by hugely rich, morally dubious John Dutton (Costner). Dutton is under siege by those who want his valuable lands – big corporations want to build there, random baddies crave a piece of the pie, and Native Americans (including Mo Brings Plenty as Mo, below) claim it’s theirs. This leads to clashes that often end in shocking violence.

John, a widower, has three

squabbling adult children – dutiful Jamie (Wes Bentley), ruthless financier Beth (British actress Kelly Reilly), and former Navy SEAL Kayce (Luke Grimes).

‘I fit into Yellowstone as patriarch of this fourthgeneration Montana family,’ says Costner, 67. ‘The show takes a way of life that’s been here for 300-400 years and has it be relevant but with all the problems that come. The land is still simple, but we aren’t.’

The season-three finale saw a mystery antagonist leave three key members of the Dutton family for dead. Finding the culprit will become the Duttons’ obsession in series four. ‘The foot is on the gas,’ promises Costner.

This series also flashes back to the family’s first generation out west, which serves as an introduction to Yellowstone’s prequel

1883, released last year. A second prequel has been ordered starring Helen Mirren and Harrison Ford, called 1923, which is set for release this December.

In other words, the show is so big it’s spawned a franchise. ‘Yellowstone is what happens when you have great dialogue and you put it against mountains and rivers and running horses,’ says Costner. ‘It has a little gold dust on it.’

Vicki Power Yellowstone series 1-3, Paramount+; season 4 begins on Wednesday.

The show takes a way of life that’s been here for 300-400 years and makes it relevant. The land is still simple but we aren’t