In PEOPLE’s exclusive first look into the second half of the western’s fifth and final season, the cast is buzzing as they return to the Yellowstone Dutton Ranch. As the team gush about the “fun times” shooting and the “passion” behind their jobs, the stars take viewers around set and show behind-the-scene moments.
While much of the next installment’s plot has been kept under wraps for fans, the actors reveal that the storyline has also remained a mystery to the entire cast.
“On one hand, it was a big family reunion coming back, and on the other it was a new set of challenges,” director Christina Voros says before Kelsey Asbille (Monica Long) teases the “very secretive” measures the production has taken to protect the plots.
“We get these redacted scripts,” Jen Landon (Teeter) explains. “Basically everything is blacked out, except for your lines.”
After actresses Dawn Olivieri (Sarah Atwood) and Wendy Moniz (Senator Lynelle Perry) share how the cast weren’t allowed to “tell each other” about the scenes they filmed, Voros reveals how the process has been a “huge testament to the intrepidness of the crew” despite doing things “a certain way for seven years.”
“I think it kind of just adds to a little bit more of a uniqueness,” Denim Richards (Colby) says. “The audience this year will really see real reactions, you know, that really were not like rehearsed.”
The cast continue to tease “how special” the final installment to be and the “ton of surprises” fans can expect when they tune in for the new season. Not only will audiences see the cast “at the absolute top of their game,” the actors promise that their performances will be especially tear jerking.
“It’s a visceral, emotional roller coaster with every character across the board,” Gil Birmingham (Thomas Rainwater) says and Wes Bentley (Jamie Dutton) adds, “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.”
The final episodes of Yellowstone season 5 will premiere November 10 on Paramount +.