Yellowstone fans, our time in limbo may never end. As viewers of the popular western series are well aware by now, creator Taylor Sheridan and leading man Kevin Costner remain locked in a feud that has effectively shut down the production. Back in January 2023, audiences were halfway through season 5 when the midseason finale ended with a significant cliffhanger. Since then, we’ve received an endless cycle of news consisting of Sheridan and Costner blaming each other for the delay. Costner eventually pulled out of the series entirely. Then Paramount announced its plans to end the show—with or without him. Now, over a year later, are we any closer to seeing more Yellowstone?

In an interview with Entertainment Tonight, Costner revealed that he’s still open to returning to the series. “I’d like to be able to do it but we haven’t been able to,” he said. “I thought I was going to make seven [seasons] but right now we’re at five. So how it works out—I hope it does—but they’ve got a lot of different shows going on. Maybe it will. Maybe this will circle back to me. If it does and I feel really comfortable with [it], I’d love to do it.”

Eagle-eyed detectives of the unfolding drama may recall this, but one of Costner’s alleged points of contention about returning for the season 5 finale was his belief that he’d negotiated payment for seasons 6 and 7—despite Paramount’s decision to end the popular western with season 5. The Dutton patriarch also reportedly has a clause in his contract that states the actor retains final say over how his character dies, should Sheridan choose to kill him off.

“Well, you know, he needs to be proactive in what happens, and I’ve kind of had my own fantasy how it might be,” Costner told ET when asked about his character’s potential fate. “But that’s Taylor’s thing. I said as much to him a while back. I had thoughts how it could happen, but we just have to see.”

The upcoming Yellowstone series finale continues Paramount’s expansion of the Sheridan universe following the Yellowstone prequel, 1883, and the Harrison Ford-starring 1923. (Yes, it’s… confusing.) In the meantime, Paramount hopes that the Yellowstone series finale will still come in guns a-blazing. Read on for everything we know about season 5 of Yellowstone.

When Will Yellowstone Return?

According to Paramount, the Yellowstone series finale will premiere sometime in November 2024. The midseason finale, which aired on January 1, 2023, set the stage for the drama to come—and teased the violence that may befall our TV cowboys. So far, season 5 follows John, Beth, Rip, Jamie, and Kayce as they navigate a contentious gubernatorial election, a growing threat from outsiders, and one hell of a blackmail situation between two Dutton siblings. In the last episode, the potential for murder entered the fray.

What Will Happen in the Rest of Yellowstone Season 5?

Before the delay, Cole Hauser (whom fans will recognize as Rip Wheeler) told Hall Wines that the rest of season 5 was “wonderful.” Who knows what’s left of what the actor worked on, but Hauser stated, “The way we ended season 4—I can’t give too much away, but the way season 4 ends, I think the audience… will be happily surprised.” If season 4’s shotgun wedding was the first treat he teased, could an official ceremony await Beth and Rip in season 5?

First, they have to survive. In an old teaser for the fifth season, the cast discussed how the series didn’t plan to “take [its] foot off the gas.” John Dutton wins the election for governor of Montana, fires nearly everyone, then makes Beth his new chief of staff. There’s nothing this family won’t do to save their ranch—according to Kelly Reilly (who plays Beth Dutton), the rest of the season was “gonna be bloody.” Jamie is planning to impeach his father and take the governorship, and it seems as if he’ll do whatever it takes to achieve his goal. (Even murder!) Sounds like as good a tease as any for the season finale. Buckle up, folks.