'Yellowstone' Season 5: Everything to Know

From the release date to the plot, here’s everything to know about Yellowstone season 5

Saddle up! It's time to return to Yellowstone Ranch.

The "most-watched scripted series in all of television" in 2021, according to CBS, is back for another season — and fans are anxiously waiting to find out what's in store for the Dutton family.

"Episode one will immediately surprise everybody — where our story starts and what has happened," executive producer David Glasser told TV Insider.

While it's a montage of intense and chaotic clips, a couple of plot points can be gleaned from the official season 5 trailer. John Dutton, played by Kevin Costner, is sworn in as Montana's governor; and his daughter, Beth Dutton, played by Kelly Reilly, is appointed his chief of staff.

In May 2023, Paramount announced that season 5 will be Yellowstone's final season. However, a sequel series is slated to air in December 2023.

Keep reading to find out more about Yellowstone season 5.

How did Yellowstone season 4 leave off?

In case you need a quick refresher, season 4 ended with Jamie Dutton killing his biological father, Garrett Randall, after it was revealed that he ordered the hit on the Dutton family. In a spur-of-the-moment ceremony, Beth Dutton and Rip wed. And Kayce Dutton returned from his spiritual journey that lasted four days and four nights.

What is Yellowstone season 5 about?

While Paramount hasn't divulged much about season 5, and neither has the cast, Costner confirmed that the fight for land is far from over for the Duttons.

"[John's] father, his grandfather, those people, were able to walk across a fence and butt heads with somebody. They didn't need a lawyer to do it. I think John is frustrated because he's cut from that same cloth," he told Entertainment Tonight. "Politics is about to overrun him."

Luke Grimes, who plays Kayce Dutton, also hinted at what fans can expect in the fifth season during an interview with Entertainment Tonight.

"Love and family and serve your tribe, your people — that's a huge theme in the show," Grimes said.

When speaking specifically about his character, Grimes said that Kayce has "a hard time choosing his relationship with his father versus his relationship with his wife and son." He also noted that the show gets "all of this really juicy drama" from the characters "fighting for their team."

When will Yellowstone season 5 air?

This will be Yellowstone's lengthiest season yet — 14 episodes with a mid-season hiatus. The first two episodes of season 5 aired back-to-back on Nov. 13, 2022, and more than 12 million people tuned in — a record for the show.

"After four seasons, the show's massive audience base continues to impress with its latest season premiere becoming the most watched scripted television premiere of 2022," said Ashwin Navin, co-founder of Samba TV. "Yellowstone continues to tap into the passions of a broad swath of viewers throughout the American Midwest hungry for Western-themed genres that have been largely underrepresented on television in recent years."

In May 2023, Peacock announced that all eight episodes of the first half of season 5 would be available to stream on May 25.

According to Paramount, the final six episodes of season 5 will air in November 2023.

Where can I watch Yellowstone season 5?

Season 5 airs on the Paramount Network and the Paramount Network app. The episodes won't immediately be available on a streaming service, though seasons 1-4 are currently available to stream on Peacock.

Is there a trailer for Yellowstone season 5?

Paramount Network released the first official trailer for season 5 in September 2022.

Which cast members are returning for Yellowstone season 5?

"We're all still in it," Grimes, who plays Kayce Dutton, told The Hollywood Reporter. He was referring to the top of the call sheet — Kevin Costner; Kelly Reilly; Wes Bentley, who plays Jamie Dutton; Cole Hauser, who plays Rip; and Kelsey Asbille, who plays Monica Dutton.

All the fan favorites in the bunkhouse are returning for season 5, including Jimmy Hurdstrom, played by Jefferson White, despite his decision to choose the Four Sixes over Yellowstone in season 4.

Which new cast members are joining Yellowstone season 5?

There are four new cast members to note for season 5. Newcomers include a cowboy named Rowdy, played by Kai Caster, and a musician named Abby, played by country music singer Lainey Wilson. Actress Lilli Kay is also joining the cast in the role of an assistant to one of the Duttons, while Dawn Olivieri, who fans might recognize from 1883, will play a corporate shark named Sarah Atwood.

Will there be a Yellowstone season 6?

The hit series will conclude with season 5. However, a sequel series, likely starring Matthew McConaughey, will premiere in December 2023.

In February 2023, Deadline reported Costner's potential departure from the show. The outlet said the "crux of the issue" was shooting schedules as the actor attempted to juggle two jobs — Yellowstone and his upcoming Western film, Horizon. Sheridan was reportedly frustrated with Costner and already piecing together a franchise extension with McConaughey as the lead.

"I'm disappointed. It truncates the closure of his character. It doesn’t alter it, but it truncates it," Sheridan told The Hollywood Reporter in June 2023, following Costner's decision to leave the series. "His movie seems to be a great priority to him and he wants to shift focus. I sure hope [the movie is] worth it — and that it’s a good one."

In September 2023, Costner spoke about his departure from Yellowstone at a child support hearing with his estranged wife Christine Baumgartner.

“I’ve been told it’s a little disappointing that [it’s] the #1 show on TV [and] I’m not participating,” he said during his testimony. "I couldn’t help them anymore. We tried to negotiate, they offered me less money than previous seasons, [and] there were issues with the creative.”

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