Yellowstone Cast : Taylor Sheridan has always known how Yellowstone would end. While the timing of it all may have shifted over the years, the story about the Dutton family and their fight to protect their land and legacy always had a clear conclusion.
“From day one, episode one, Taylor said, ‘I know exactly how this ends,’” executive producer David Glasser remembers.
Sheridan didn’t keep this to himself either. “He told me the ending of the show when we were filming season 1,” says Kelly Reilly, who has played the fierce Beth Dutton for five seasons.
The series follows the Dutton family — led by patriarch John (Kevin Costner), along with lawyer-turned-enemy Jamie (Wes Bentley), tough-as-nails Beth, and independent cowboy Kayce (Luke Grimes) — as well as those who work on their ranch. From the very first episode, when the eldest sibling Lee Dutton (Dave Annable) dies, it became clear that the fight over land and lifestyle in Montana was a life-or-death struggle. And the Duttons would do whatever it took to win.
Yellowstone debuted in June 2018 on the relatively obscure Paramount Network, but it eventually found a massive audience, thanks to word of mouth and the show streaming on CBS and Peacock. “At its heart, it’s about family and the lengths you’d go to protect them,” executive producer David Glasser explains. “It’s a simple concept, and Taylor [Sheridan] has masterfully built a universe around it.”
Yellowstone Cast
According to Nielsen, Season 5A was the most-watched scripted series on TV, drawing an average of 11.6 million viewers per episode. As the show moves into the second half of the season, its popularity is undeniable, much like the Dutton family’s land—everyone wants it.
However, it’s been a while since new episodes aired. The first half of Season 5 wrapped up on January 1, 2023, with the rest expected that summer. But by February, reports emerged that star Kevin Costner wanted to cut down his filming time, leading to discussions about a possible sequel series, potentially starring Matthew McConaughey.
As speculation grew, Yellowstone couldn’t resume production before the 2023 SAG and WGA strikes, which lasted into the fall. By November, Paramount announced the series would return in November 2024, along with a new present-day spinoff titled 2024.
Six months later, in May 2024, production finally resumed on what was confirmed to be the final season of Yellowstone, though Kevin Costner’s involvement was still unclear. It was later revealed that Costner would not return to his role as John Dutton.
The star claimed he had wanted to film the second half of Season 5 but said, they didn’t have the scripts. Got all that? Meanwhile, the spinoff 2024 is still happening but is now titled The Madison, featuring Michelle Pfeiffer, Patrick J. Adams, and Matthew Fox. In short, Yellowstone fans have had quite the wait—and so have the cast.
We have such a huge following of fans who are very emotionally connected to the show, says Kelly Reilly. Some of them are mad as hell that it’s taken so long, but we’re like, ‘It’s not our fault! We wanted to go to work! Luke Grimes adds, I’ve been itching to get back to the show, and I’m so glad it finally worked out and we got to finish strong.
Now, with less than two months until the final six episodes of the Western saga begin airing on November 10, things seem to have worked out as intended. It was always going to be five seasons in [Taylor Sheridan’s] head, but because the show became so successful, the network and everyone wanted more, Reilly explains. So, in a way, fate took it, and we ended this part of Yellowstone the way he always envisioned.
As for what the ending will look like, fans will remember that the first half of Season 5 ended with Rip (Cole Hauser) and the cowboys preparing to head down to Texas.
We film most of the show in Montana, but there’s a part set in Texas, Kelly Reilly explains. Newlyweds Beth and Rip are struggling with the separation, especially Beth. We start the show with Rip in Texas, and Beth is miserable without him, Reilly continues. Within 24 hours, she’s asking, ‘When are you coming back?’ She doesn’t have much patience or understanding for Rip’s cowboy duties, so she might just take a trip down to Texas to see him.
But Beth’s not only dealing with her husband’s absence; she’s also declared war on her brother Jamie, and in the Dutton family, that means a fight to the death. Jamie’s the most raw and vulnerable he’s ever been, says Wes Bentley, who plays Jamie. He’s also the angriest he’s ever been.
Whether that anger can match Beth’s is another question. Reilly reflects on a key moment from Season 1 when John told Beth he needed her to fight. When she asked Who? his simple response was: Everyone. Since then, she’s been his most loyal soldier. Her devotion to protecting the ranch is unwavering, even though it’s caused her so much pain, Reilly says.
“She’s always seen Jamie as the biggest threat to its survival, and now that prophecy is being fulfilled. At the end of the last episode, she declared war—and she keeps her promise.
Although John won’t be part of the final episodes due to Costner’s absence, Reilly reassures fans that this doesn’t change Beth’s determination to protect her family’s legacy. In fact, it only makes her more determined. As for John’s fate, that secret seems to be as well-guarded as those hidden at the Train Station. In true Dutton style, no one is revealing anything.
With Beth and Jamie locked in a fierce rivalry, what does that mean for Kayce, the sibling not directly involved in their fight? Grimes hints that we’ll see more interactions between Kayce and Beth in the final episodes. It was a lot of fun, Grimes says, because Kelly and I had always talked about how we wished we had more scenes together, since we’re rarely in the same room. It was great working with Kelly and being around Beth’s energy.
As for the final season’s twists, every cast member echoes Glasser’s statement: If you think you know what’s going to happen, Taylor will always surprise you with something unexpected.
One of the biggest surprises? Filming for the series has already wrapped. For the cast, that means no more family feuds, no more breathtaking Montana sunsets, and no more wild nights playing poker in the bunkhouse. There’s definitely a bit of a summer camp blues vibe, Grimes shares. All my friends are leaving, but I’ve made lifelong friendships on this job. I’m just glad we got to finish on a high note.
Bentley reflects, “It’s one of the biggest projects I’ve ever been part of, and playing this character has been a double-edged sword. It’s deeply satisfying to have so much emotional work to do, but it also takes a toll. I’m excited to let him go, but also sad at the same time.”
For Reilly, the unexpected break before filming was a blessing in disguise. With the strikes and other changes, everything got delayed longer than we’d hoped. But in a weird way, the break helped us not take things for granted, and the scripts we came back to were incredible. We were able to wrap things up rather than drag them out.
Grimes waited until the last possible moment to discover how the show would end. I read the final episode the day before filming, he says. I couldn’t be happier. I think it’s the perfect ending for every character. It just shows how great of a writer Taylor is. It’s a profound and beautiful conclusion, and I can’t wait to sit down and watch it someday.
Yellowstone returns Sunday, Nov. 10, on Paramount Network.
