Is 'Mayor of Kingstown' Set in the Same Universe as 'Yellowstone'? Taylor Sheridan's Shows Explained

Taylor Sheridan has built one of television's biggest collections of gritty dramas, from 'Yellowstone' and its Dutton family saga to 'Landman', 'Tulsa King', and 'Special Ops: Lioness'. But with 'Mayor of Kingstown' now streaming on Netflix, some viewers may be wondering whether the Jeremy Renner-led crime drama is secretly connected to the 'Yellowstone' universe.

The short answer is no. Despite sharing Taylor Sheridan as a creator and having several familiar faces in common, 'Mayor of Kingstown' is a separate series with its own setting, characters and storyline. All four seasons of 'Mayor of Kingstown' are now available on Netflix, allowing new viewers to catch up on the crime thriller before its fifth and final season. Netflix confirms that the first four seasons are now streaming, while Paramount+ has confirmed that Season 5 will be the final season.

Is 'Mayor of Kingstown' Part of the 'Yellowstone' Universe?

Unlike '1883', '1923', and other shows that directly expand the 'Yellowstone' story, 'Mayor of Kingstown' does not take place in the Dutton family's world.

The series is set in the fictional town of Kingstown, Michigan, where incarceration is the dominant industry. The McLusky family acts as a group of unofficial power brokers, attempting to maintain a fragile balance between prisoners, prison guards, police, gangs and other forces operating in the community.

Jeremy Renner stars as Mike McLusky, who reluctantly takes over the role of the town's unofficial 'mayor' after tragedy affects his family. Unlike the Duttons, the McLuskys are not connected to the Montana ranching dynasty at the heart of 'Yellowstone'. Their story revolves around prisons, organised crime and the complicated power structures surrounding incarceration.

Taylor Sheridan's Connection to Both Shows

The confusion is understandable because Taylor Sheridan is a major creative force behind both series. Sheridan co-created 'Mayor of Kingstown' with Hugh Dillon and serves as an executive producer. The series premiered on Paramount+ in 2021 before eventually making its way to Netflix, where the first four seasons are now streaming. Netflix identifies Sheridan and Dillon as the show's co-creators.

Sheridan, meanwhile, co-created 'Yellowstone' with John Linson and subsequently helped build an expanding franchise around the Dutton family. However, being part of Sheridan's wider television slate does not automatically make every series part of the same fictional universe. 'Mayor of Kingstown' is one of his standalone dramas.

There's One Interesting 'Yellowstone' Connection

There is, however, a connection that may have caused some confusion among viewers. Hugh Dillon, who co-created 'Mayor of Kingstown' with Sheridan and plays Detective Ian Ferguson in the series, also appears in 'Yellowstone' as Sheriff Donnie Haskell.

But Dillon's involvement does not mean the two shows share continuity. He plays different characters in the two series, much like actors can appear in multiple Sheridan productions without those characters existing in the same fictional world. Dillon has also explicitly described the two shows as completely different projects.

How 'Mayor of Kingstown' Differs From 'Yellowstone'

While the shows aren't connected, they do share some of Sheridan's familiar storytelling themes. Both explore power, violence, corruption, family loyalty and communities struggling against forces larger than themselves. But their worlds are very different.

'Yellowstone' centres on the Dutton family's battle to protect its Montana ranch and land from developers, politicians and rival interests. 'Mayor of Kingstown', meanwhile, focuses on the prison-industrial complex and the McLuskys' attempts to prevent Kingstown from descending into complete chaos.

That makes 'Mayor of Kingstown' a natural choice for 'Yellowstone' fans, even though viewers don't need to know anything about the Dutton family to understand it.

Will 'Mayor of Kingstown' Continue?

The series has already been renewed for a fifth and final season, with Jeremy Renner returning as Mike McLusky alongside Edie Falco and the ensemble cast. Paramount+ announced the final season will consist of eight episodes. So while 'Mayor of Kingstown' may sit comfortably alongside 'Yellowstone' on a Taylor Sheridan watchlist, it remains its own fictional world.

For fans wondering whether they need to watch 'Yellowstone' first, the answer is simple: no. 'Mayor of Kingstown' stands independently, but its dark tone, complicated characters and Sheridan connection make it an obvious recommendation for anyone looking for another intense drama after finishing the Dutton saga.