It’s almost time to say goodbye to the current iteration of Yellowstone. The Paramount Network’s modern Western megahit is slated to end after Season 5, which has been on hiatus since Jan. 1. But the world of Yellowstone isn’t going the way of the buffalo. The current show will be succeeded by a new, currently untitled spinoff potentially starring Matthew McConaughey. It’s a big move for cable TV’s biggest scripted show, but it’s also not a huge surprise after months of tension between star Kevin Costner and creator and sole writer Taylor Sheridan.
Ever since it became clear that Yellowstone would not return for summer 2023 as originally promised, the question has been when will it actually come back, and how much Costner will be part of it. Now, we have some answers, tentative as they may be in the era of Hollywood labor strikes.
Below, you’ll find everything there currently is to know about the return of Yellowstone Season 5, including the latest developments in the ongoing saga of Kevin Costner vs. Yellowstone.
Yellowstone Season 5 Part 2 release date
TLDR: There’s no premiere date yet, but production could start quickly after the actors’ strike ends.
THE DETAILS: The back half of Season 5 was originally slated to premiere summer 2023, which didn’t happen. It was then scheduled to go back into production in July for a November premiere, followed by the new spinoff in December, according to Paramount Network. But that didn’t happen, either, due to the writers’ strike and the still-ongoing actors’ strike. The show’s cast is represented by the actors union SAG-AFTRA. None of the cast members have said much about the strike on social media, but Brecken Merrill, who plays Tate Dutton, posted a message of support for the union, encouraging the AMPTP, the organization that represents the studios, to get back to the negotiating table amid the stalemate in talks. “Come on AMPTP, cowboy up and NEGOTIATE so we can all get back in the saddle!” he wrote on Instagram, alongside a photo of himself and Luke Grimes on set.
In a Hollywood Reporter profile of Sheridan, it was noted that he was “pencils down” and supported the Writers Guild of America strike while it was happening. Now that the writers’ strike is over, he can write whatever he wants, which may or may not be Yellowstone while Costner’s exit gets worked out.
In September, Puck reported that Sheridan was close to completing the scripts for the second half of Season 5 before the writers’ strike began, under the assumption that Costner would not be back. Some pre-production has already begun. So if Costner doesn’t return — which currently seems likely — Sheridan won’t have to do rewrites, and production on the back half of the season could begin soon after the resolution of the actors’ strike.
Up next for Sheridan is Lawmen: Bass Reeves, a Western anthology series he created that premieres Nov. 5.
Yellowstone Season 5 Part 2 cast
TLDR: Most of the cast is expected to return.
THE DETAILS: No official news has been announced about the cast of the final batch of Yellowstone episodes (see the Costner conundrum above), but here’s who was circling the ranch in the midseason finale.
Yellowstone Season 5 Part 2 episodes
TLDR: Part 2 will include 6 episodes, or perhaps more.
THE DETAILS: In May 2022, Paramount announced that Season 5 of Yellowstone would be its biggest yet, with 14 total episodes. Eight of those episodes aired in late 2022, and 6 more are on the way. That brings the series to a grand total of 53 episodes.
However, in the June 2023 Hollywood Reporter profile, Sheridan said he could make more than six. “If I think it takes 10 episodes to wrap it up, they’ll give me 10,” he said. “It’ll be as long as it needs to be.”
Yellowstone Season 5 Part 2 trailer
THE DETAILS: Yellowstone hasn’t even resumed filming yet, so a trailer is still a long way off. But we’ll share it here as soon as it’s ready.