“Yellowstone” Begins Production on Final Episodes Ahead of Slated November 2024 Return

Paramount announced on May 20 that production on the hit Western show's remaining episodes has begun, which comes two years after the first half of the season premiered

Yellowstone is officially back!

On May 20, Paramount announced that the second half of season 5 of the hit Western series has started production as filming has begun in Montana. As previously announced, the episodes are still slated to return in November.

The second half of the season was initially slated for a November 2023 release but due to the writers' strike, production was delayed, despite much of the cast expressing their desire to return.

Per the release, the upcoming episodes will continue to chronicle the Dutton family "amid shifting alliances, unsolved murders, open wounds, and hard-earned respect."

The family's ranch "is in constant conflict with those it borders – an expanding town, an Indian reservation, and America’s first national park."

Related: Kevin Costner Says He Would 'Love' to Do More Than 5 Seasons of Yellowstone After Exit: 'Maybe This Will Circle Back'

The announcement did not confirm what cast members have returned to close out the hit show, so it remains unclear what kind of role — if any — Kevin Costner will have in the final episodes.

In the year since the first half premiered, reports surfaced that Costner, 69, who plays Dutton family patriarch John Dutton, and the show's creator, Taylor Sheridan, were struggling due to creative differences, and that Costner's focus on his multi-part Western epic, Horizon, had divided his attention.

Earlier this month, the actor told Deadline that he hasn't seen any scripts for the remainder of season 5, and "is not involved in any of that stuff," though he clarified that he is "open" to returning to the character.

"I made Yellowstone the first priority, and to insinuate anything else would be wrong," he said of the reports that circulated about his divided attention.

“If they’ve got so many other things going on, maybe this circles back and it’s a really cool two seasons. Or end it, if the writing’s there and I’m happy with it. I’m open to that,” Costner added, admitting that he was “not happy” that the Yellowstone crew didn’t push back against the “crazy stories” that came out about him.

Related: Luke Grimes Understands Kevin Costner's 'Unfortunate' Yellowstone Exit: 'You Gotta Do What You Gotta Do'

The last fans saw of the Dutton family was the mid-season finale, which aired in January 2023 and left plenty of questions unanswered — including concerns over who will live and who might die.

The episode saw John Dutton offer Monica (Kelsey Asbille) and her family a place to live on the ranch, a flashback to Rip's acceptance of a lifelong commitment to Dutton Ranch, Jamie Dutton (Wes Bentley) filing for his father's impeachment from his position as governor of Montana and him subsequently going to war with Beth over his lack of loyalty.

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Yellowstone is available to stream on Peacock.

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