This Taylor Sheridan Neo-Western Sequel Was Filmed 3 Years Ago, So Why Hasn’t It Been Released?

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Taylor Sheridan‘s follow-up to the critically praised film Wind River was shot in 2023, but a release date still seems distant. Wind River concluded Sheridan’s loosely connected American Frontier series—which also included Sicario and Hell or High Water. These films weren’t connected by characters or storylines, but they did share common themes.

With Wind River, Taylor Sheridan made his first foray into directing, telling the story of Jeremy Renner and Elizabeth Olsen as they solve a violent crime on a Native American reservation. Many consider it to be Sheridan’s best work so far, despite it not being an obvious candidate for a large, ongoing franchise.

Wind River: The Next Chapter Filmed Back In 2023

Despite previous uncertainty, a continuation of Wind River was announced in 2022, titled Wind River: The Next Chapter. While Jeremy Renner and Elizabeth Olsen won’t be involved, Martin Sensmeier and Gil Birmingham are returning to play their characters, Chip and Martin Hanson.

Chip has transformed significantly since the last movie, where he struggled with drug addiction and dealt drugs. Now, in The Next Chapter, he works as a tracker for the U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service, pursuing a serial killer on a Native American reservation. The film also stars Jason Clarke, Kali Reis, and Scott Eastwood.

Something unusual is happening with Wind River: The Next Chapter. Although filming finished in March 2023, we still haven’t seen a trailer or learned when it will be released. It’s common for movies to stay under wraps for a while after filming, but three years of silence about this sequel is definitely strange.

Taylor Sheridan Isn’t Involved With Wind River: The Next Chapter

With Taylor Sheridan building a large and successful television business – including shows like The Madison and the Yellowstone spin-off Marshals in 2026 – it’s not surprising he hasn’t been involved in movies recently. Because of this, he had no direct role in Wind River: The Next Chapter, which was directed by Kari Skogland, known for The Falcon and the Winter Soldier.

It seems Sheridan approved the project, since many of his usual colleagues are working on it. However, it’s a shame he isn’t more directly involved. He has a distinctive writing style, and when he doesn’t personally write the screenplay – like with the somewhat weak Marshals – you can definitely notice the difference.

Legal Issues Have Prevented Wind River: The Next Chapter’s Release

Several actors from The Next Chapter have been in touch with Ebaster after finishing filming the sequel. In January 2025, Kali Reis shared her enthusiasm for the movie, though she wasn’t sure when it would be released.

Gil Birmingham has described the upcoming Wind River 2 as a more suspenseful and distinct film compared to the first one, but clarified that Taylor Sheridan wasn’t heavily involved. He also suggested that the challenges in defining the genre of The Next Chapter might have contributed to its delayed release.

Jason Clarke described the upcoming film as “beautiful” and boasting an “incredible cast” in October 2025. He also mentioned it had been held up due to legal issues, but indicated it should be released shortly.

It’s curious what legal issues have been holding up “Wind River: The Next Chapter.” With almost nine years since the first film, such a long delay could hurt the sequel’s chances of being seen. Let’s hope Justin Clarke is correct and the film will be released soon.

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2026-04-02 18:49