Inside the new Yellowstone! Taylor Sheridan’s latest hit western Lawmen: Bass Reeves already has fans hooked – but does it have a connection to the Dutton family dynasty?

Yellowstone fans finally have a new show to satisfy their craving for a new season: the Paramount+ drama Lawmen: Bass Reeves.

The new series, produced by Yellowstone creator Taylor Sheridan, is inspired by the life of real-life police officer Bass Reeves, the first Black deputy U.S. marshal west of the Mississippi River.

The series follows Reeves (played by British actor David Oyelowo) as he hunts down fugitives in what was known as the “Indian Territory” in Arkansas, land set aside for Native Americans who had been displaced from their tribal lands by the U.S. government. pushed west.

The Western crime series has a lot to offer Yellowstone fans, although Sheridan, that show’s mastermind, isn’t writing or directing Bass Reeves episodes like he does with his Yellowstone shows.

Still, fans wondered if there was a connection to the ever-expanding Yellowstone universe before the show’s finale on November 19.

Riding into the Sunset: The flagship show comes to an end with the second half of its fifth season after star Kevin Costner left after the first half, leaving fans in the lurch; still from Yellowstone

Unfortunately, fans may be disappointed to learn that Lawmen: Bass Reeves is not connected to Sheridan’s other series in any known way.

The format itself complicates matters, as the new show is just part of a Lawmen anthology series, and subsequent seasons will focus on other – presumably real – law enforcement officers.

However, it was not always intended to be his own property.

In May of last year, MTV Entertainment Studios revealed that the previously announced Bass Reeves series had been retitled 1883: The Bass Reeves Story, and was said to be tied to the earlier Yellowstone prequel 1883, starring the married couple Tim McGraw and Faith. Hill, along with Sam Elliott.

Sheridan’s earlier 1883 was always intended to be a one-season series, so Bass Reeves could have been a way to continue that story without carrying over the other leads, but at some point the decision was made to move it away from Yellowstone entirely to separate.

Trying to keep the shows connected may have created some logistical tensions, as Reeves’ performance as a Deputy US Marshal mainly concerns his time in Arkansas, but the 1883 characters were originally from Tennessee and traveled to Oregon before meeting the future Dutton farm in Montana. .

Their travels could have taken them through Arkansas, but it would have been a detour south and might not have fit into the story of the original spin-off.

It’s unclear how Sheridan and Bass Reeves creator and showrunner Chad Feehan originally attempted to connect the show to 1883, or if the connection was merely related to the themes and a similar setting (although Arkansas is part of the South) .

Separate Path: Unfortunately, fans may be disappointed to learn that Lawmen: Bass Reeves is not connected to Sheridan’s other series in any known way

The series follows Reeves (David Oyelowo) as he hunts down fugitives in what was known as the “Indian Territory” in Arkansas, land set aside for Native Americans who were forced off their tribal lands and driven west by the U.S. government .

Pathbreaker: It is inspired by the life of real-life police officer Bass Reeves, the first black deputy US marshal west of the Mississippi River (pictured)

But another issue holding Bass Reeves back from being part of the Yellowstone universe is Feehan’s commitment to turning lawyers into an anthology series.

The Bass Reeves season will feature just four episodes, with the first two premiering back-to-back on November 5, and subsequent seasons will feature several iconic attorneys from the United States’ past.

So far, it’s unknown which benefactor the show’s second season will focus on, or what time periods the series might cover.

The real Reeves was born into slavery in Arkansas in 1838 and was later forced to join his slave owner when he joined the Confederate army during the Civil War before escaping to freedom.

When slavery was abolished in the US in 1865, Reeves was able to return to Arkansas and work as a farmer for several years.

However, when the call went out to hire new U.S. Marshals, Reeves was wanted because of his reputation in the area and his ability to speak several Native American languages, making him an ideal choice to assist law enforcement in the Indian Territory.

Reeves was one of the most talented lawyers of his generation, and is said to have made more than 3,000 arrests during his career.

After spending 18 years as a deputy marshal in Arkansas, Reeves briefly transferred to Paris, Texas, and spent his final years in Oklahoma after it became a state in 1907.

He retired due to illness in 1909 and died a year later at the age of 71.

While Yellowstone fans may be disappointed that they won’t get more of the show’s expanded universe, their long national nightmare will soon be over.

Earlier this month, Paramount announced that it had greenlit two new spinoffs, titled 1944 and 2024.

The final show is believed to be a previously announced sequel to the flagship series starring Matthew McConaughey.

Going Solo: Lawmen: Bass Reeves was originally intended as a continuation of the 1883 spin-off of Yellowstone, but that idea was jettisoned at some point and it became a standalone show

Geography: Set in Arkansas, the series is also set in the 1880s, but far from the Dutton family’s final location in Montana; still from Yellowstone

New Face: With the departure of Kevin Costner, Matthew McConaughey will take the helm in a sequel series, which is believed to be the greenlit show 2024; seen on October 2 in NYC

The actor has been cast to replace original Yellowstone lead Kevin Costner after he left the show at the end of season 5A, with the second half of the season still to be filmed.

Costner had reportedly fallen out with Sheridan and Paramount executives over his desire for more money to film the remainder of the season, as well as his request for significantly less time filming so he could focus on shooting his own two-part epic western film. Horizon.

The other spin-off, 1944, will likely be a sequel to the earlier 1923 spin-off, starring Harrison Ford and Helen Mirren.

Although Sheridan appears to be doubling down on the use of years as titles, both 1944 and 2024 are merely working titles that may change over time.