Saddle up! It’s time to return to Yellowstone Ranch.
The “most-watched scripted series in all of television” in 2021, according to CBS, is back for another season — and fans are anxiously waiting to find out what’s in store for the Dutton family.
“Episode one will immediately surprise everybody — where our story starts and what has happened,” executive producer David Glasser told TV Insider.
After the midseason finale of the show’s fifth season aired in January 2023, fans have been waiting a long time to find out what happens next for Kevin Costner’s character, John Dutton. But after a production delay, the wait is almost over.
In May 2023, Paramount Network announced that season 5 will be Yellowstone’s final season and will air in November 2024. Despite scheduling conflicts with Costner and his eventual decision to leave the show, the Field of Dreams star shared on the Today show in June 2024 that he’d be open to returning to the show “under the right circumstances.”
“I’ve supported that thing and I have loved it. It’s been really important to me. I would love to go back under the right circumstances. I think that all of us want [that],” he said, adding, “There’s always a chance. I love the thing – you’ve gotta be really clear about that.”
Keep reading to find out more about Yellowstone season 5.
How did Yellowstone season 4 leave off?
In case you need a quick refresher, season 4 ended with Jamie Dutton killing his biological father, Garrett Randall, after it was revealed that he ordered the hit on the Dutton family.
In a spur-of-the-moment ceremony, Beth Dutton and Rip wed. Meanwhile, Kayce Dutton returned from his spiritual journey that lasted four days and four nights.
What is Yellowstone season 5 about?
While Paramount Network hasn’t divulged much about the second half of season 5, Luke Grimes, who plays Kayce Dutton, has hinted at what fans can expect in the fifth season during an interview with Entertainment 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.”
In September 2024, Gil Birmingham, who plays Thomas Rainwater, told PEOPLE that the season’s final episodes will be an “emotional rollercoaster,” while Wes Bentley (Jamie Dutton), seemed to hint that the conclusion will be worth the long wait.
“It’s going to be really, really exciting for people I think,” he said. “Because you’ve been waiting a long time to see what’s going to happen with few things.”
When will Yellowstone season 5 air?
Season 5 has been Yellowstone’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, and more than 12 million people tuned in — a record for the show.
“After four seasons, the show’s massive audience base continues to impress with its latest season premiere becoming the most watched scripted television premiere of 2022,” said Ashwin Navin, co-founder of Samba TV. “Yellowstone continues to tap into the passions of a broad swath of viewers throughout the American Midwest hungry for Western-themed genres that have been largely underrepresented on television in recent years.”
The final episodes of Yellowstone season 5 are set to air on November 10.
Where can I watch Yellowstone season 5?
Season 5 airs on the Paramount Network and the Paramount Network app. The first half of season 5 is now streaming, along with seasons 1-4, on Peacock.
Is there a trailer for Yellowstone season 5?
Paramount Network released the first official trailer for season 5 in September 2022, ahead of the season premiere.
A teaser for the second half of the season arrived in August 2024, though it shared less than 30 seconds of clips from the upcoming episodes.
Which cast members are returning for Yellowstone season 5?
“We’re all still in it,” Grimes, who plays Kayce Dutton, told The Hollywood Reporter. He was referring to the top of the call sheet — Kevin Costner; Kelly Reilly; Wes Bentley, who plays Jamie Dutton; Cole Hauser, who plays Rip; and Kelsey Asbille, who plays Monica Dutton.
All the fan favorites in the bunkhouse are returning for season 5, including Jimmy Hurdstrom, played by Jefferson White, despite his decision to choose the Four Sixes over Yellowstone in season 4.
Which new cast members are joining Yellowstone season 5?
There are four new cast members to note for season 5. Newcomers include a cowboy named Rowdy, played by Kai Caster, and a musician named Abby, played by country music singer Lainey Wilson. Actress Lilli Kay is also joining the cast in the role of an assistant to one of the Duttons, while Dawn Olivieri, who fans might recognize from 1883, will play a corporate shark named Sarah Atwood.
Will there be a Yellowstone season 6?
The hit series is set to conclude with season 5. However, a sequel series, likely starring Matthew McConaughey, was announced to premiere in December 2023.
In February 2023, Deadline reported Costner’s potential departure from the show. The outlet said the “crux of the issue” was shooting schedules as the actor attempted to juggle two jobs — Yellowstone and his upcoming 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 told The Hollywood Reporter in June 2023, following Costner’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 from Yellowstone at a child support hearing with his estranged wife Christine Baumgartner.
“I’ve been told it’s a little disappointing that [it’s] the #1 show on TV [and] I’m not participating,” he said during his testimony. “I couldn’t help them anymore. We tried to negotiate, they offered me less money than previous seasons, [and] there were issues with the creative.”
While no official announcement has been made, in August 2024, Deadline reported that negotiations were underway for a sixth season that would star Reilly and Houser.