'Yellowstone' will have 2nd season thanks to GOED tax incentives

The Paramount Network has green-lit a second season of its TV series “Yellowstone,” providing Utah with a nearly $28.2 million economic impact.

Paramount announced the second season pickup last week. Earlier in July, the Governor’s Office of Economic Development (GOED) board approved a $7 million tax credit incentive for Viacom as a way to keep the Paramount Network TV series shooting in Utah. The first season also had portions shot in Montana. Paramount said the 10-episode second season also will be shot in both states.

The return of “Yellowstone” to Utah “is a strong testament for our professional crew and our beautiful scenery,” said Virginia Pearce, director of the Utah Film Commission. “The economic and cultural impact of a show this size and stature will have a lasting effect on our industry reputation.”

The 10-episode first season premiered June 20 and concludes Aug. 22. The production used the entirety of the Utah Film Studios in Park City and portions of the show were shot in Summit and Wasatch counties and Ogden.

Set in Montana, the show stars Kevin Costner in the lead role as the leader of the Dutton family, which controls the largest contiguous ranch in the U.S. and must contend with constant attacks by land developers, clashes with an Indian reservation and conflict with Yellowstone National Park. Screenwriter Taylor Sheridan (“Wind River,” “Hell or High Water” and “Sicario”) returns as the showrunner and a writer for the series. The show’s executive producers are John Linson, Art Linson, Taylor Sheridan, Costner and David C. Glasser.

“Yellowstone” has been a hit with audiences. About 5.2 million people saw the first episode, setting a recording for the Paramount Network and its predecessor, Spike. That helped springboard the series to the No. 2 position in cable TV's most-watched series, behind only “The Walking Dead.” Going into last week’s episode, the series was averaging 5 million viewers.

The GOED incentive for the second season is based on the production spending nearly $28.2 million in Utah and involving 140 cast, 180 crew and 1,450 extras. Principal photography is scheduled for Aug. 20-Nov. 29, according to GOED documents.

The second-season incentive is comparable to the one the GOED approved for the series’ first season. In July 2017, the board approved a tax credit incentive of more than $7.1 million for the first season, based on the production spending about $28.5 million in Utah.