It's almost time to saddle up
Lauren Piester,
Tim SuretteTelevision's biggest drama is also the television industry's biggest drama. Paramount Network's hit WesternYellowstoneshould be on an easy ride into a record-ratings sunset, but instead it's more of a bucking bronco that can't be tamed. Season 5, which has been on hiatus since January 2023, is expected to be the hit show's final season, but now there's a chance the show might not be ready to hang up its cowboy hat after all. While we wait to see how it all shakes out, we're keeping track of what we do know about Yellowstone's return.
StarKevin Costnerwill not appear in the second half of Season 5 as the actor moves on to a new passion project of his own, a series of Western films. But there is some good news from the ranch: YellowstoneSeason 5 is back on the horse and has finally resumed production, and a release date for Part 2 has been announced. Plus, another sequel series is in the works.
There's still a lot of unfinished business to take care of on the flagship series. Civil war has broken out among the Duttons, with Jamie (Wes Bentley) and Beth (Kelly Reilly) at each other's throats, John (Costner) at risk of being impeached, and a devastating illness spreading through Montana wildlife and endangering the Duttons' cattle.
Below, we'll go through what we know about the second half of the fifth season, including the release date, cast information, and recaps of the first part of the season to set you up for what's to come.
ALSO READ:Yellowstonestars discuss life with John as the governor
Yellowstone Season 5 Part 2 latest news
It's a busy time at the ranch. On Aug. 30, Paramount Network released the first teaser trailer for Yellowstone Season 5 Part 2. A day earlier, the network shared first look photos from the drama's new episodes. You can see both below.
But here's some news that could be even bigger: On Aug. 27,it was reported that Yellowstone might return for Season 6 after all (without Costner), despite Paramount previously announcing that the show would be hanging up its hat after its fifth season. For details, head to "Is Yellowstone ending with Season 5?" below.
YellowstoneSeason 5 Part 2 release date
This certainly qualifies as a YEEHAW: Our favorite Western has a return date. Yellowstone Season 5 Part 2 will premiere on Sunday, Nov. 10 at 8/7c. The last time we saw a new Yellowstone episode? Jan. 1, 2023. Paramount Network also revealed that internationally, Yellowstone Season 5 Part 2 will debut in Canada on Paramount+ on Nov. 10, in the U.K. on Nov. 11, and in Latin America, Brazil, and France at a later date.
Yellowstone Season 5 Part 2 trailers and teasers
The first footage fromYellowstone's new episodes was released on Aug. 30. The new teaser trailer — which opens with an old quote from Kevin Costner's John Dutton, taken from Season 2 — shows the feud between the Dutton siblings heating up, as Jamie warns, "You destroy me, you destroy yourself."
Yellowstone Season 5 Part 2 first look photos
Paramount isn't about to let anyone forget that the star of the upcoming fall TV season is Yellowstone. In late August, the network released a first look at the show's long-awaited return. After Costner's departure, the remaining stars look like they're up to the task of carrying the drama.
YellowstoneSeason 5 production
On May 21, Deadline reported that Yellowstone had resumed production on Season 5 Part 2 in Montana. Let's hope everyone remembers how to ride a horse.
Is Yellowstoneending with Season 5?
There's a chance Yellowstone isn't ready to ride off into the sunset after all. On Aug. 27, the Hollywood insider newsletter Puck reported that stars Kelly Reilly and Cole Hauser, who play Beth Dutton and Rip Wheeler, are in talks to star in a sixth season. This would keep Yellowstone alive past its previously announced end date. Per The Hollywood Reporter, Paramount Network did not comment on the report.
In May 2023, Paramountannouncedthat Yellowstone would end with Season 5. At the time of the announcement, the show's final episodes were scheduled to premiere in November 2023, while a sequel series was confirmed to be in the works and set to debut in December. However, the writers strike and the actors strike delayed both projects, and Season 5 will now return on Nov. 10, 2024.
The news that the show would be ending came after months of speculation surrounding the question of whether Kevin Costner would return for the remainder of Season 5. Costner has since confirmed that he won't be involved in the rest of the fifth season.
In aneye-opening interview with The Hollywood Reporter in June 2023, Sheridan insisted that his intended ending for John Dutton was still in play even if Costner did not return to the series. "I'm disappointed," Sheridan said in the Hollywood Reporter interview. "It truncates the closure of his character. It doesn't alter it, but it truncates it."
That doesn't necessarily mean the fifth season will be truncated, though. Yellowstone Season 5 Part 2 was expected to be just six episodes, and actor Ian Bohen indicated in March 2024 that six episodes are still the expectation. However, in June 2023, Sheridan toldThe Hollywood Reporter, "If I think it takes 10 episodes to wrap it up, [Paramount Network will] give me 10. It'll be as long as it needs to be."
Will Kevin Costner return to Yellowstone?
Kevin Costner has confirmed that his days in John Dutton's cowboy hat are over. On June 20, Costner posted a video on social media announcing that he will not return to Yellowstone for Part 2 of Season 5.
"Hi everyone," Costner said in the video. "I just want to reach out and let you know that after this long year and a half of working onHorizonand doing all the things that's required, and thinking aboutYellowstone, that beloved series that I love, that I know you love, I just realized that I'm not going to be able to continue Season 5B or into the future."
The actor continued, "It was something that really changed me. I loved it. And I know you loved it. And I just wanted to let you know that I won't be returning, and I love the relationship we've been able to develop, and I'll see you at the movies."
In an interview with GQ in May, Costner claimed that the reason he leftYellowstonewas that delays in production interfered with his schedule and some filming contracts he had surrounding hisHorizonWestern films.
Costner essentially said he had tried to come up with an amicable solution, offering up his time to finish out his arc before he was committed to shootHorizon: An American Saga. He said he was even willing to come in to film John Dutton's death scene, if it needed to come to that. According to Costner, "I said, 'Well, if you want to kill me, if you want to do something like that,' I said, 'I have a week before I start [shooting Horizon], I'll do what you want to do.'" But Paramount and Sheridan didn't take him up on his offer.
Costner also bemoaned how he was portrayed in the media, with some outlets saying he was only willing to give the show a week of his time, when he feels it was the delays in production and scripts that left him feeling stuck while his passion project waited in the wings, so he moved forward on Horizon.
"What am I supposed to do? I'm just not a dog that waits in a driveway not knowing when the person's going to come home," he said. "I want to know. And I also understood that their universe was really big, so I just decided not to sit in the driveway, but to be busy myself and be available when I could. It didn't end up happening."
Costner had previously indicated that he would be open to returning to the series under the right circ*mstances. On April 9, Costner was interviewed byEntertainment Tonightat CinemaCon, where he was promoting Horizon. "I'd like to be able to [return to Yellowstone] but we haven't been able to," he said. "I've loved making that series. I made five seasons of it, I thought I was going to make seven [seasons]. So how it works out — I hope it does — but they've got a lot of different shows going on. Maybe it will. Maybe this will circle back to me. If it does and I feel really comfortable with [it], I'd love to do it."
Yellowstone Season 5 cast
Kevin Costner will not appear in the second half of the season, but Season 5 has already brought a mix of familiar and new faces to the ranch. Josh Lucasreturned as young John Dutton for the first time since Season 3. He was joined by Kylie Rogers as young Beth and Kyle Red Silverstein as young Rip. Jacki Weaver also returned as the Duttons' latest business foe, Market Equities CEO Caroline Warner, with Mo Brings Plenty and Wendy Monizpromoted to series regulars as Thomas Rainwater's (Gil Birmingham) right-hand man Mo and governor-turned-senator Lynelle Perry, respectively.
Four new characters have arrived onYellowstone as well. Kai Casterplays a young cowboy named Rowdy. Lainey Wilsonplays a musician, Abby. Lilli Kai plays Clara Brewer, Gov. Dutton's new assistant. And1883'sDawn Olivierijoined the cast as Sarah Atwood, a Montana newcomer and "corporate shark" who has attached herself to Jamie.
The whole bunkhouse is also back, includingForrie J. Smith,Denim Richards,Ian Bohen,Ryan Bingham, andJen Landonas Teeter, who has been promoted to series regular.
Before the season premiered, it was announced thatKathryn Kelly, who plays Jimmy's fiancée, Emily, had also been promoted to series regular and returned to the show alongsideJefferson Whiteas Jimmy. So far, they've only appeared in the midseason finale and are happily living and working at the Four Sixes Ranch in Texas.
The back half of the season is also likely to feature moreOrli Gottesmanas Halie, a young, confident girl drawn to Carter. So far, we've only seen her at the county fair and briefly in the midseason finale. "In Season 5, Halie becomes that person who gives Carter the chance to come out of his shell and to teach him not only about himself, but he finds himself always wanting Halie to be around," reads her character description. "Halie comes along and now there is someone who can fit that mold and be there for him."
ALSO READ:The Yellowstone universe explained: Every show, how to watch, Dutton family tree, and more
Main cast members
- Kevin Costner as John Dutton (not returning for Season 5 Part 2)
- Kelly Reilly as Beth
- Luke Grimes as Kayce
- Wes Bentley as Jamie
- Cole Hauser as Rip
- Kelsey Asbille as Monica
- Brecken Merrillas Tate
- Finn Little as Carter
- Gil Birmingham as Thomas Rainwater
YellowstoneSeason 5 recaps
Need to catch up on the recent episodes? Read our full recaps and cast interviews for the latest Season 5 episodes.
- Episodes 1 and 2:John ruffles feathers as governor and Rip gets creative on the ranch
- Episode 3: Beth pulled a fast one and still ended up in handcuffs
- Episode 4:Summer Higgins returns to stir up trouble
- Episode 5: A vegan ruins dinner in Season 5's best episode yet
- Episode 6: Yellowstone's Dawn Olivieri explains what Sarah is doing with Jamie
- Episode 7: Yellowstone's Piper Perabo dishes on the kiss heard 'round the fair
- Episode 8: Yellowstonemidseason finale sees Beth and Jamie prepare for war
YellowstoneSeason 5 review
After four seasons of manipulation, scheming, and fighting for power against the backdrop Montana's relatively untouched beauty, new governor John Dutton is now calling the shots, with Beth (Kelly Reilly) running the show behind him. His intentions are clear in the two-part premiere of Season 5. The ranch hands have not changed their ways, despite John's new gig, which makes for some of the best scenes in the premiere episodes.
Read TV Guide's full review of the two-part premiere:Yellowstone Season 5 premiere review: John Dutton may be governor, but the ranch remains the same
YellowstoneSeason 4 recap
YellowstoneSeason 5 picked up after the bloody events of the Season 4 finale; Beth (Kelly Reilly), who we all know is the real brains behind every operation on the Yellowstone-Dutton Ranch, manipulated her adopted brother Jamie (Wes Bentley) into killing his biological father, Garrett (Will Patton). After it was revealed that Garrett was the one who ordered the attempted hits on John, Beth, and Kayce (Luke Grimes) back in Season 3, Beth figured he had it coming. She also made sure to hang onto the evidence, so now she's got Jamie under her thumb and out of the governor's race, clearing the way for their father to be the only Dutton running for office. She also just got hitched to Rip Wheeler (Cole Hauser) and watched her father's new, confusing vegan special friend (Piper Perabo) head off to jail, so basically, it's Beth's world and everyone else is just living in it.
Complicating Beth's quest for world/Montana domination is the fact that Kayce has been on a heck of a spiritual journey that showed him a vision of two paths. At least one of those paths, as he told Monica (Kelsey Asbille), would result in "the end of us." Whatever that means, it can't be good.
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Yellowstoneprequels and spin-offs
In November 2023, Paramountofficially greenlittwo more spin-off series:1944and a contemporary spin-off then called 2024. In August 2024, Paramount announced that 2024 was retitled The Madison, and it will star Michelle Pfeiffer, who will also executive produce. In a release, the series was described as "a heartfelt study of grief and human connection following a New York City family in the Madison River valley of central Montana." Paramount also did not mention whether The Madison will air on Paramount Network or Paramount+.
The news on The Madison was first broken byTVLine, which reported that the show will follow "wealthy matriarch Stacy Clyburn and her family as they leave New York City and head to Montana in the wake of her husband and brother-in-law's tragic deaths in a plane crash." Production is reported to start soon, with 2025 eyed for the premiere.
So far, the cast of The Madison is also confirmed to include Matthew Fox, Patrick J. Adams, Elle Chapman, Beau Garrett, and Amiah Miller.
At one point,Matthew McConaugheywasreportedly in talksto star in aYellowstonespin-off, though it is unclear if he is still involved in anyYellowstonespin-off.Varietyalso previously reported that, according to sources, the contemporary spin-off would feature some crossover characters from the flagship show.
According to a report in early February byPuck, Yellowstonestars Kelly Reilly (who plays Beth Dutton), Cole Hauser (Rip Wheeler), and Luke Grimes (Kayce Dutton) were in some tough negotiations to star in an in-development follow-up series as well, but it now appears that the question is whether they'll keep the flagship series afloat for a sixth season instead.
A prequel limited series, 1883, aired on Paramount+ late in 2021 and revealed the origin story of the Dutton family arriving in Montana. The series starred Isabel Mayas the brave and adventurous teenager Elsa, elder sister to John Dutton's great-grandfather, John Sr., andTim McGrawas her father, James.
A second Yellowstone prequel, titled 1923, premiered in December 2022. It picks up 40 years after 1883 with the next generation of Duttons tending to their ranch during the aftermath of World War I and the start of Prohibition. The series, which is slated to return for Season 2, starsHarrison Ford and Helen Mirrenas Jacob and Cara Dutton, the brother and sister-in-law to Tim McGraw's James Dutton from1883. The premiere of 1923 also revealed some hidden secrets about the Dutton family tree.
Sheridan is also writing a Yellowstone spin-off called 6666, which takes place at the real historic Four Sixes Ranch in Texas (which Sheridan owns) and tells the story of how the ranch has continued to operate in the same way today as it did over a century ago. That spin-off will air on Paramount Network, along with the original show, though it's currently on hold as Sheridan assesses its heritage — as owner, from a front-row seat — to honor its history.
The Sheridan-produced limited seriesLawmen: Bass Reeves, starringDavid Oyelowoas Bass Reeves, was originally expected to exist within the Yellowstone universe as a prequel to1883but was changed to function as its own standalone series.
Additionally, Sheridan has previously said he had several moreYellowstone prequels in the works. "[The prequels are] time capsules of life in Montana as a microcosm of the world as a whole," Sheridan told The Hollywood Reporter in June 2023. "They're big spectacles, and the more that you move into the modern era, the bigger that spectacle becomes. I know these are huge bets Paramount makes on me every time. I'm asking them to give meGame of ThronesSeason 6 money for what is essentially a pilot every year, and that's a big ask. As long as I do my job well, and people don't bore of the genre, I think there will be enough for many more [prequels] — three or four."
Yellowstoneon CBS
While Yellowstoneis on hiatus, it's still finding new fans. The Paramount Network series made its broadcast debut Sept. 17, 2023, on CBS, where it aired Sundays, starting from the beginning of Season 1. Season 2 began airing on Sunday, Oct. 29.
On Dec. 4, CBS announced it would continue to air Yellowstone in 2024, even though the writers and actors strikes had ended. Season 3 began its run on CBS with three episodes on Jan. 14 and concluded with a two-night finale event on Sunday, Jan. 28 and Monday, Jan. 29. Because CBS returned to regular programming after the Super Bowl on Feb. 11, it's unclear whether, or when, the network will air Season 4 ofYellowstone. CBS will be airing another Sheridan series, Tulsa King, in the summer, and hasn't announced plans to air Season 4 of Yellowstone in the summer or fall.
In its first week on CBS, Yellowstone drew 6.6 million viewers, much more than the 2.8 million who tuned into the series premiere when it debuted on Paramount Network back in 2018. (As the audience grew, episodes on Paramount Network peaked at almost 10 million viewers.)
30 fun facts about Yellowstone
If you think you're a fan of Yellowstone but want to become a super fan, then check out TV Guide's compilation of 30 (and counting) fun facts and behind-the-scenes secrets about the show, including how you can visit the real Dutton ranch and what it takes to be a cowboy on a Taylor Sheridan show.
30 Fun Facts You Didn't Know About Yellowstone
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How to watch Yellowstone
Yellowstone Seasons 1-4 and the first half of Season 5 are streaming on Peaco*ck. New episodes of Season 5 will air on the Paramount Network.
Here are more ways to watch Yellowstone.
