Costner cited his commitment to his four-part Western film franchise “Horizon” and scheduling conflicts as reason.
The second half of Yellowstone’s fifth and final season will premiere on November 10, 2024, on Paramount Network in the U.S. and November 11 in the U.K., with later release dates in Latin America, Brazil, and France. Paramount Plus will also stream the episodes in Canada on the same day as the U.S. premiere.
Kevin Costner announced his departure from Yellowstone, citing his commitment to his four-part Western film franchise “Horizon” and scheduling conflicts as reason. He expressed disappointment in how Paramount and 101 Studios handled his departure and the misinformation surrounding it.
Costner mentioned losing an entire year at one point during his time on Yellowstone as a key factor in his decision to leave. He also cited lack of readiness in material and issues with production as reasons for his exit after five years.
Costner expressed openness to returning to Yellowstone as John Dutton under the right circumstances, mentioning his love for the show and the importance it has had for him, but emphasized the need for material to be ready on time.
Yellowstone Season 5 was split into two parts, with Part 1 made up of eight episodes and Part 2 with six episodes. There are discussions about expanding it to 10 episodes to provide closure to John Dutton III’s storyline.
Filming for the final episodes of Yellowstone Season 5 started in Montana on May, with production delays and conflicts between Costner and series creator Taylor Sheridan, as well as scheduling conflicts due to the Writers Guild of America strike.
Yellowstone follows the Dutton Family, led by Costner’s John Dutton, on the largest cattle ranch in the U.S. Several prequel series, including “1923” starring Harrison Ford and “1883,” as well as a contemporary spinoff with Matthew McConaughey in talks for a lead role, are in the works to expand the franchise.
Key cast members returning for Yellowstone Season 5, Part 2 include Luke Grimes, Kelly Reilly, Wes Bentley, Cole Hauser, Kelsey Asbille, and Gil Birmingham.
