After months of delays, behind-the-scenes drama, and the exit of series star Kevin Costner, Yellowstone season 5 part 2 has officially begun filming. The last episode of the Western drama aired on January 1, 2023. Since then, delays such as the 2023 Hollywood strikes and conflict between Costner and series creator Taylor Sheridan have pushed back filming, despite Yellowstone season 5 part 2 being the final batch of episodes for the show.
Now, Deadline has confirmed Yellowstone season 5 part 2 has officially started filming in Montana after its many setbacks. The final episodes of the show are still expected to air on Paramount Network in November 2024, however, an exact release date has yet to be confirmed by Paramount themselves. It’s also unclear how many episodes of the show there are going to be. The series will continue despite Costner’s absence, and will be followed by a Matthew McConaughey-led sequel series, 2024, sometime after.
What Will Happen In Yellowstone’s Final Episodes?
Given Costner’s exit as John Dutton, season 5 part 2 will have to address his absence, offering a sendoff to the character despite his lack of on-screen appearances. Given how important the rancher-turned-governor has been throughout the series, it’s unclear how the show will write him out while giving him a satisfactory conclusion. It’s also uncertain what direction the series is going to take, and what characters and story elements will be used to wrap up the Western.
Aside from finishing the many storylines already established throughout its run, the show may also use its final episodes to transition into McConaughey’s upcoming Yellowstone spinoff. Prior reports indicate Kayce, Beth, and Rip could return in 2024, dependent on how things shake up with actor contracts. If all three come back for the next chapter of the franchise, then season 5 part 2 could be approximately turning the page instead of closing the book entirely. This would mean not every story would need to get resolved.
Despite Yellowstone coming to a close, 2024 shows the story could still continue past its final episodes. The franchise also still has plenty of upcoming spinoffs to flesh out its world, including 1923 season 2, 1944, and 6666. Even though filming on the final episodes has begun, the franchise as a whole is far from over, with plenty of interesting and interesting unexpected stories still left to tell. Although the end of the flagship series marks a new era for the series, it’s far from the end of the Dutton’s family history onscreen.
All episodes of Yellowstone are now streaming on Peacock.
