Kevin Costner recently unveiled the first look at his upcoming multipart Western Horizon: An American Saga. However, for the vast majority of Yellowstone fans, the only saga they want is the conclusion of the Dutton family’s story and a glimpse of what comes next. Costner reinvigorated his career by headlining Yellowstone as John Dutton, but his clashes with Paramount Network and showrunner Taylor Sheridan have left Costner’s future with the franchise in question.
Although we’re still several months away from the return of the series, we’re sharing everything we know about Yellowstone season 5, part 2. And we’ll keep updating this post when anything newsworthy comes up.
Will Kevin Costner return for Yellowstone season 5, part 2?
For now, it’s unknown. Despite the alleged feud with Sheridan, Costner hopes to reprise his role as the Dutton family patriarch in Yellowstone. Matthew Belloni of Puck News reported in March 2024 that Costner is telling people he will return in some capacity, perhaps as a cameo.
“Kevin Costner has been telling people he’s planning to return for at least a cameo and possibly more, but there are currently no discussions for him to do that,” Belloni wrote. “Even if Costner significantly lowers his financial and time commitment demands, Sheridan may not want to bother reopening his finished scripts to accommodate a send-off for John Dutton.”
To date, Costner has not spoken directly about his conflict with Sheridan and Paramount Network. The only time Costner revealed any details was while he was in court for his September 2023 divorce from Christine Baumgartner. Via Deadline, Costner confirmed there were issues with his Yellowstone shooting schedule, which conflicted with his Horizon commitments. Costner also acknowledged creative differences with Sheridan and openly stated that he may go to court over his exit from the series.
However, as of March 2024, no lawsuit by Costner has been filed. It’s unclear if that means talks between the two sides remain ongoing. If and when Costner files a lawsuit, then we can safely say that he won’t be back.
What will happen to John Dutton if Costner doesn’t return?
Sheridan had a very revealing quote on the subject when speaking to The Hollywood Reporter in June 2023. He said that Costner’s exit “truncates the closure of his character. It doesn’t alter it, but it truncates it.” This implies that John Dutton won’t survive the end of Yellowstone even if Costner does reappear.
Via ScreenRant, one of the theories regarding Dutton’s fate is that he will meet his demise from colon cancer. During the first season, Dutton survived his first bout with that illness. If that’s the way John Dutton dies, then it would bring his fate full circle.
Will the spinoff series serve as Yellowstone season 6?
That is the general idea that Paramount Network sold to fans when the end of Yellowstone was announced. However, a report on Puck states that three of the show’s principal cast members, Kelly Reilly, Cole Hauser, and Luke Grimes, are in a pay dispute with Paramount Network because they want significant raises to reprise their respective roles as Beth Dutton, Rip Wheeler, and Kayce Dutton.
The report also indicates that those cast members have to be paid for Yellowstone season 6 even though it won’t be produced. That was a provision in their contracts for the previous series. There’s no indication yet whether the actors and Paramount Network have come to terms. If they don’t re-sign with the new show, then the spinoff series will lose key characters who could have been the bridge to the future of the franchise.
Which Dutton will survive: Jamie or Beth?
The first half of Yellowstone season 5 featured the complete deterioration of the relationship between Beth and her adoptive brother – who doubles as the black sheep of the family – Jamie Dutton (Wes Bentley). Beth and Jamie even openly contemplated murdering each other in a struggle that may destroy the Duttons. That is one of the big unresolved plotlines heading into the second half of the season.
Note that Bently’s name was not mentioned in Puck’s report about Yellowstone cast members seeking a raise for the spinoff series. If there’s any veracity to that story, it may mean that Jamie isn’t going to make it out of Yellowstone season 5, part 2. That doesn’t necessarily mean that Jamie will die, it could also mean incarceration or exile from his family. For now, we can only speculate.
Will Matthew McConaughey appear in Yellowstone season 5, part 2?
If Sheridan wanted to follow the established model for TV spinoffs, Matthew McConaughey’s new character from the upcoming spinoff would be introduced in Yellowstone season 5, part 2. The only problem with that idea is that there’s no official report that McConaughey has even signed on for the spinoff.
McConaughey’s name has been mentioned in conjunction with the spinoff since February 2023. Since that time, all of the Hollywood trades have simply said that McConaughey is in talks to lead the spinoff. So it’s just talk until McConaughey actually signs on the dotted line. For now, there’s no indication that he has.
How many episodes of Yellowstone are left?
Originally, only six episodes were planned to conclude the series. But Sheridan told THR in 2023 that he has the leeway to change that, if he chooses to. “If I think it takes 10 episodes to wrap it up, they’ll give me 10,” said Sheridan. “It’ll be as long as it needs to be.”
When will Yellowstone season 5, part 2 begin filming?
Paramount Network has announced that production will resume this spring, so it should be within a few weeks.
When will Yellowstone season 5, part 2 premiere?
The final episodes of Yellowstone season 5 will begin airing in November on Paramount Network.
Who is in the cast of Yellowstone season 5 part 2?
For now, Costner remains the lead of Yellowstone as John Dutton, though it remains to be seen if he will return. The core cast expected to appear in Yellowstone season 5 part 2 includes:
- Luke Grimes as Kayce Dutton
- Kelly Reilly as Bethany “Beth” Dutton
- Wes Bentley as James Michael “Jamie” Dutton
- Cole Hauser as Rip Wheeler
- Kelsey Asbille as Monica Long Dutton
- Gil Birmingham as Chief Thomas Rainwater
- Brecken Merrill as Tate Dutton
- Denim Richards as Colby Mayfield
- Forrie J. Smith as Lloyd Pierce
- Ian Bohen as Ryan
- Jen Landon as Teeter
- Finn Little as Carter
- Ryan Bingham as Walker
Will we see more of young John Dutton in Yellowstone season 5, part 2?
While it’s still unknown whether or not Kevin Costner will return, John Dutton will be popping up in season 5, part 2. Josh Lucas, the actor who plays a younger version of Costner’s character, told Deadline on March 14 that he will return as the character for the final season of the show.
“I think we’re going to do 10 or more so episodes” : Josh Lucas reveals of the final season of #YellowstoneTV pic.twitter.com/WFaSf3MWRw
— Deadline Hollywood (@DEADLINE) March 15, 2024
The actor revealed that part 2 will be “10 episodes or so,” which, while still vague, does narrow it down a bit in terms of how many times we’ll see the Dutton clan this season.