Actor Dennis Quaid is heading to Yellowstone National Park with the all-new documentary series Saving Yellowstone with Dennis Quaid.

The four-part series, which premieres on Discovery and Animal Planet on November 26, will highlight the dangers threatening the Greater

Yellowstone Ecosystem (GYE), which ranges through Idaho, Wyoming, and Montana. Yellowstone National Park was the first national park

 

 

established in the United States, and arguably the most iconic, yet its size only puts it in the top ten, behind parks like Wrangell–St. Elias and Denali in Alaska, and Death Valley in California and Nevada.

 

 

Variety announced the series, which comes from Chris Grant‘s Osmosis Global, which also described Saving Yellowstone as exploring “ongoing threats to the region, such as disease, drought, pollution, human encroachment and climate change, giving viewers an exclusive look at the majestic wild and insights from those working to fight for the survival of this extraordinary American landscape.”

 

 

The enthusiasm for the series grew so exponentially that the concept couldn’t be contained in one title. In 2021, the prequel series 1883 premiered, and then in 2022, the prequel series 1923 debuted. The flagship Yellowstone series may have wrapped up with Season 5 in 2024, but the franchise shows no signs of slowing, with Y: Marshals coming to CBS next year and four more spin-offs being in various stages of development.

While the original TV series is a family drama set on the Yellowstone Dutton Ranch, 1883 and 1923 both leaned more heavily into historical Western themes. Much like how the viewership increased from one season to the next, so did critical reactions, as the first season of Yellowstone sits at only 58% positive reviews, with Season 5 climbing to 78% positive and securing a “Certified Fresh” distinction. The Sam Elliott-starring 1883 fared even better, scoring 89% positive reviews, and the Harrison Ford and Helen Mirren-starring 1923 coming in with an average of 94% positive between its two seasons.

It’s worth noting, though, that Yellowstone starred Kevin Costner, with his star power, as well as Elliott, Ford, and Mirren all bringing in audiences, elevating excitement for the project. It’s yet to be seen how future series will resonate among audiences without stars that possess a similar following.