"Yellowstone" season 5 part 2 has been a long time coming. Part 1 ended back in January 2023, meaning it will have been nearly two years by the time part 2 starts airing on the Paramount Network this November.
Some of these delays couldn't be controlled. The Western drama co-created by Taylor Sheridan has encountered multiple obstacles, including the dual Hollywood strikes by the WGA and SAG-AFTRA, a shift in creative direction and protracted negotiations with star Kevin Costner that ultimately saw Costner leave the show.
Yes, you read that right. Costner will not return as Montana rancher John Dutton for these upcoming episodes.
However, it's potentially not all bad news for "Yellowstone" fans. While this final part of season 5 was originally going to be the end of "Yellowstone," a late August report from Variety suggests that we could get a season 6 after all. Since that report though, comments from multiple cast members have indicated that season 6 probably won't happen and that season 5 will be the show's final season.
So without further delay, here's everything we know so far about "Yellowstone" season 5 part 2, including the release date, cast and more.
'Yellowstone' season 5 part 2 release date
Paramount Network recently announced that the first episode of "Yellowstone" season 5 part 2 (also referred to as season 5B) will premiere on Sunday, November 10 at 8 p.m. ET/PT. The subsequent five episodes will air on Paramount Network on the following Sundays 8 p.m. ET/PT as well.
Internationally, "Yellowstone" season 5 part 2 will debut in Canada on Paramount Plus on November 10 as well. In the U.K. the first episode will arrive on November 11. Dates for Latin America, Brazil, and France are set to be announced at a later date.
Of course, it was initially assumed that these six episodes would be the last for "Yellowstone." But with stars Kelly Reilly and Cole Hauser reportedly in talks for top billing, it seems that a sixth season is a real possibility. We'll know for sure if season 5 ends without a sense of finality or whenever Paramount officially announces more episodes are coming.
Need to refresh your memory about what happened in previous seasons? Check out our guide on how to watch "Yellowstone."
'Yellowstone' season 5 part 2 trailers and first look
With new episodes fast approaching, we have now seen a few trailers arrive ahead of "Yellowstone" season 5 part 2.
Most recently, we got a trailer on YouTube titled "Generations." It doesn't give us much and even includes some shots and dialogue featuring the now-departed Costner. But if we can take anything from this trailer, it's that the feud between Beth (Kelly Reilly) and Jamie (Wes Bently) isn't going away.
A few days before "Generations" dropped on YouTube, the show dropped a quick teaser on its Instagram. Given that this teaser promises "generations of blood," don't expect the family drama to simply disappear like Costner's John Dutton.
Finally, Paramount Network provided us with a first look at the new season of Yellowstone, which you can see in the images above. The most interesting one to me is the last one, which could foreshadow how the show reveals John Dutton's demise.
'Yellowstone' season 5 part 2 cast
Aside from star Kevin Costner, who has officially exited the show, the entire regular cast of "Yellowstone" is expected to return. Here's the official Paramount Network cast list for the second part of "Yellowstone" season 5.
- Luke Grimes as Kayce Dutton
- Kelly Reilly as Beth Dutton
- Wes Bentley as Jamie Dutton
- Cole Hauser as Rip Wheeler
- Kelsey Asbille as Monica Long Dutton
- Brecken Merrill as Tate Dutton
- Jefferson White as Jimmy Hurdstram
- Forrie J. Smith as Lloyd Pierce
- Denim Richards as Colby Mayfield
- Ian Bohen as Ryan
- Finn Little as Carter
- Ryan Bingham as Walker
- Gil Birmingham as Chief Thomas Rainwater
- Jen Landon as Teeter
- Kathryn Kelly as Emily
- Lainey Wilson as Abby
'Yellowstone' season 5 part 2 plot speculation
The biggest looming question about the new fifth-season episodes of "Yellowstone" is how they will handle the exit of Kevin Costner and thus John Dutton as well. With Costner not coming back even for a single scene, whatever happens to John will have to happen offscreen, whether that's a dramatic death or a graceful retreat to some unseen location. Given that the first half of the fifth season ended with John and his son Jamie each scheming to potentially eliminate the other, it wouldn't be a surprise if John meets a violent end sometime between episodes.
That will leave the rest of the Dutton family to pick up the pieces, and as much conflict as there has been between John and his children, the loss of the family patriarch will have huge repercussions for the ranch and the Dutton business empire. The final episodes are likely to focus on a power struggle among John's children Jamie, Beth and Kayce, along with their various allies.
That's not even getting into the question of political succession, since John was also the governor of Montana as of his last appearance. If he's murdered, that's political assassination, which in reality is a pretty big deal. Even if he's not killed off, Costner's Dutton was facing impeachment, meaning he could be eliminated politically and from the show even without dying off-screen.
If you want to know how the season ends ... well, there's a chance you can spoil yourself. An angry Montanan took to the Missoula subreddit and (potentially) spoiled the entire ending (h/t Taste of Country). I'm not going to reveal what they said here, but you can peruse the post at your own risk.
'Yellowstone' spin-offs
"Yellowstone" is essentially a soap opera, though, so the political implications are likely to be less important than the personal drama. While these episodes could be the end of "Yellowstone" as a series, the "Yellowstone" universe is thriving.
A new season is currently planned for the prequel series "1923." There are also previously announced spin-offs "1944" (another prequel) and "6666" (set on the nearby 6666 Ranch).
Then there's the rumored show "2024." This was originally set to serve as a sequel to "Yellowstone," essentially continuing the series with a new lead character. Matthew McConaughey was tipped to lead the series (h/t The Hollywood Reporter), but an official casting announcement has yet to be made.
However, it seems at this time that "2024" has potentially been replaced with "The Madison." That show has already added several cast members, including Matthew Fox as Paul, a self-reliant bachelor who loves the outdoors (h/t Deadline). He's set to be joined by Michelle Pfeiffer, who will play the mother of Paige (Elle Chapman) and Abigail (Beau Garrett). They'll be joined by Patrick J. Adams, who is set to play Paige’s husband, and Amiah Miller will play Abigail’s eldest daughter.
As mentioned previously, there's still a chance that "Yellowstone" will get a season 6. However, an Instagram post from actress Jen Landon, who plays Teeter, may have thrown cold water on that idea. In her post, she clearly refers to season 5 as the "last season of Yellowstone." It's not impossible that season 6 won't still come, but that certainly indicates season 5 was written with ending the show in mind.
She's not the only cast member to indicate that season 5 is officially the show's final season. Cole Hauser, one of the stars initially tipped to return for a potential season 6, indicated in an interview that these upcoming episodes will be the last for "Yellowstone." When speaking to Us Weekly, he said "You’ll have to stay tuned for November for how Taylor [Sheridan] wraps it up!” all but confirming that the season 5 finale will also be the series finale.
