Why Fans Can’t Miss the Final Episodes of ‘Yellowstone’ Season 5

After a series of delays due to onset drama, writers’ and actors’ strikes, Paramount has finally announced the premiere date for the much-anticipated final episodes of “Yellowstone” season 5.

What Is ‘Yellowstone’?

“Yellowstone,” starring Kevin Costner, Luke Grimes, Kelly Reilly, and Wes Bentley, is a gripping drama that follows John Dutton, played by Kevin Costner, as he and his family fight to protect their sprawling Montana ranch from outside threats. The show made its debut on the Paramount Network in June 2018 and quickly became a fan favorite. In February 2022, it was confirmed that the show would return for a fifth and final season.

“We never know what’s next, you know?” Luke Grimes, who portrays Kayce Dutton, told Entertainment Tonight in March 2022. “We’re sorta on the ride with everybody else. We kinda get [the scripts] as they come and we’re always super excited to see what’s happening next.”

Recap: How Did ‘Yellowstone’ Season 4 End?

Season 4 concluded with an intense cliffhanger as Garrett Randall (Will Patton) launched an attack on the Dutton ranch. Kevin Costner teased what’s to come in season 5, joking with ET, “I got a new horse. How’s that?” while keeping any real spoilers under wraps.

“It’s one of the more fun things in life to know that it’s a journey and you don’t always know everything that’s going with it,” Costner added.

Season 5 will pick up with John Dutton’s campaign to become governor of Montana, as revealed in an April 2022 interview with creator Taylor Sheridan.

When Did ‘Yellowstone’ Season 5 Premiere?

“Yellowstone” season 5 kicked off with a two-hour premiere on November 13, 2022. The new season was split into two parts, with the first eight episodes airing between November 2022 and January 2023. Fans were treated to a teaser in August 2022, promising that the Dutton family would “show the world who we are and what we do.” A longer trailer dropped in September 2022, hinting that “power has a price” as John Dutton was sworn in as governor of Montana.

When Does ‘Yellowstone’ Season 5 Return?

On November 2, 2023, Paramount announced that the second half of season 5 would premiere in November 2024, marking two years since the season began. The highly anticipated episodes will begin airing on November 10, 2024, though the exact number of episodes remains a mystery.

Chris McCarthy, President and CEO of Showtime & MTV Entertainment Studios, reflected on the show’s global success, noting, “Within five years, we grew Yellowstone from a hit U.S. cable show with five million viewers into a global hit franchise with over 100 million fans around the world and multiple extensions – and, we’re just getting started.” McCarthy also teased new spinoffs, “1944” and “2024,” which will continue the franchise’s legacy.

Is There More to Come?

While fans dread the thought of “Yellowstone” coming to an end, creator Taylor Sheridan has a clear vision for the series’ conclusion. “It will go as many years as it takes for me to tell the story, but you’re not going to see nine seasons of it,” he told The New York Times in December 2021.

Kevin Costner, on the other hand, hopes for a satisfying ending. “I just hope it runs its course in a really fun way with a highly dysfunctional family,” he told ET.

Will Kevin Costner Return for ‘Yellowstone’ Season 5 Part 2?

On June 20, 2024, Kevin Costner officially announced that he would not be returning for the second half of season 5. In a heartfelt message posted on Instagram, the actor shared, “I just want to reach out and let you know that after this long year and a half of working on Horizon and doing all the things that that’s required, and thinking about Yellowstone, 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 five or into the future.” He concluded, “I loved it and I know you loved it, and I just wanted to let you know that I won’t be returning. I love the relationship we’ve been able to develop, and I’ll see you at the movies.”

Fans are now eagerly awaiting the final episodes of this beloved series, even as they brace for a future without Kevin Costner’s iconic portrayal of John Dutton.