'Yellowstone' Season 5: All About the Western's Highly-Anticipated Final Installment

Mar. 15, 2025

Kevin Costner in Yellowstone.Photo: Paramount Network

Warning:Yellowstoneseason 5, part 1 spoilers ahead.

Saddle up! It’s time to return to Yellowstone Ranch one last time.

The “most-watched scripted series in all of television” in 2021, according to CBS, is back for one final season — and fans are anxiously waiting to find out how the Dutton family drama will resolve itself.

Part 1 ofYellowstoneseason 5, which consisted of eight episodes, premiered in November 2022. Viewers sawKevin Costner’s character John Dutton become the governor of Montana much to Jamie Dutton’s (Wes Bentley) chagrin. Meanwhile, Beth Dutton (Kelly Reilly) managed to halt Market Equities' plan to build an airport and resort. CreatorTaylor Sheridanalso hit audiences with yet another tragedy: the loss of Kayce Dutton (Luke Grimes) and Monica Dutton’s (Kelsey Asbille) son, John, following a car accident.

Script delays and disagreements with Sheridan led to Costner’searly exit. However, director Christina Voros toldThe Hollywood Reporterthat “John Dutton is still central” to the story in the final six episodes.

Part 2 of season 5 premieres on November 10.

“It’s a visceral,emotional roller coaster with every characteracross the board,” Gil Birmingham (Thomas Rainwater) told PEOPLE in September 2024 of the remaining episodes. Bentley added: “It’s going to be really, really exciting for people, I think. Because you’ve been waiting a long time to see what’s going to happen with few things.”

Keep reading to find out 5.

What isYellowstoneseason 5, part 2 about?

Kevin Costner in Yellowstone.Paramount Network

While Paramount Network hasn’t divulged much about the second half of season 5,Grimeshashinted at what fans can expect in the fifth seasonduring an interview withEntertainment Tonight.

“Love and family and serve your tribe, your people — that’s a huge theme in the show,” he said.

When speaking specifically about his character, Grimes said that Kayce has “a hard time choosing his relationship with his father versus his relationship with his wife and son.” He also noted that the show gets “all of this really juicy drama” from the characters “fighting for their team.”

The production team went to extreme lengths to keep the plot of part 2 under wraps, including how the Dutton patriarch will be written off the show. Even the actors were kept in the dark.

“We get these redacted scripts,” Jen Landon (Teeter) explained to PEOPLE in September 2024. “Basically everything is blacked out, except for your lines.”

When willYellowstoneseason 5 air?

Season 5 has beenYellowstone’s lengthiest season yet — 14 episodes with a mid-season hiatus. The first two episodes of season 5 aired back-to-back on Nov. 13, 2022, andmore than 12 million people tuned in— a record for the show.

Yellowstoneseason 5, part 2 will premiere on November 10 and consist of six episodes.

Where can I watchYellowstoneseason 5?

Season 5 airs on theParamount Networkand the Paramount Network app. The first half of season 5 is now streaming, along with seasons 1-4, onPeacock.

Is there a trailer forYellowstoneseason 5?

Paramount Network released the first official trailer for season 5 in September 2022, ahead of the season premiere.

Ateaser for the second half of the seasonarrived in August 2024, though it shared less than 30 seconds of clips from the upcoming episodes.

Which cast members are returning forYellowstoneseason 5?

Frazer Harrison/Getty

The top of the call sheet — Costner; Reilly; Bentley,Cole Hauser, who plays Rip; and Asbille — all returned for season 5, part 1. The only cast member who will be missing from part 2 is Costner.

All the fan favorites in the bunkhouse returned for season 5. Meanwhile,Jefferson White, who plays Jimmy Hurdstrom, is expected to make an appearance in part 2 despite his character’s decision to choose the Four Sixes over Yellowstone Ranch in season 4.

Which new cast members are joiningYellowstoneseason 5?

Kai Caster Instagram

Will there be aYellowstoneseason 6?

Richard Bord/Getty

The hit series is set toconclude with season 5. However, a sequel series, likely starringMatthew McConaughey, was announced to premiere in December 2023.

In February 2023,DeadlinereportedCostner’s departure from the show. The outlet said the “crux of the issue” was shooting schedules as the actor attempted to juggle two jobs —Yellowstoneand his Western film,Horizon. Sheridan was reportedly frustrated with Costner and already piecing together a franchise extension with McConaughey as the lead.

“I’m disappointed. It truncates the closure of his character. It doesn’t alter it, but it truncates it,” Sheridan toldThe Hollywood Reporterin June 2023, followingCostner’s decision to leave the series. “His movie seems to be a great priority to him and he wants to shift focus. I sure hope [the movie is] worth it — and that it’s a good one.”

In September 2023, Costner spoke about his departure fromYellowstoneat a child support hearing with his estranged wifeChristine Baumgartner.

While no official announcement has been made, in August 2024,Deadlinereported thatnegotiations were underway for a sixth seasonthat would star Reilly and Houser.

How didYellowstoneseason 4 leave off?

Kelly Reilly in “Yellowstone”.Paramount Network

In case you need a quick refresher, season 4 ended with Jamie killing his biological father, Garrett Randall (Will Patton), after it was revealed that he ordered the hit on the Dutton family.

In a spur-of-the-moment ceremony, Beth and Rip Wheeler wed. Meanwhile, Kayce returned from his spiritual journey that lasted four days and four nights.

source: people.com