YELLOWSTONE: It seems like it would be challenging to think of a more contentious second half of “Yellowstone” season 5. The hugely popular Western series by Taylor Sheridan ran into trouble after season 5A aired back in 2022. Hollywood strikes the following year, to add with star Kevin Costner’s frustration with the shooting schedule, made “Yellowstone” season 5B a huge question mark.
On the other hand, Costner expressed that he was not available to devote his time on the “Horizon” saga, a series of Westerns which became a true passion project for the veteran actor. Actor Costner, who portrays ranch owner John Dutton on “Yellowstone,” said he hadn’t received any scripts for the show’s fifth season of part B, so he chose to walk away from the series rather than wait around to find out when, or even if, he’d be allowed to shoot the movie, “Horizon: An American Saga – Chapter 1,” which unfortunately tanked at the box office.
YELLOWSTONE SEASON 5 PART 2
But Costner’s take on the matter is one thing; the other side can be heard in Paramount and Sheridan’s response: the commitment to the “Horizon” movies, said the two, proved to be a hindrance for the planning of the second half of “Yellowstone” season 5, and it was directly implicated in the cause of delays.
This extended shoot-out between both parties made it very apparent that there was no love lost on either side, and indeed, it seemed that in the midst of all the commotion, Costner’s exit had finally been sealed — at least after Paramount confirmed that season 5B of “Yellowstone” would mark the series finale.
Since then, longtime stars Kelly Reilly and Cole Hauser have been said to be in talks to star in a sixth season of “Yellowstone.” While nothing has yet been confirmed, it seems the show may have life beyond 5B, and maybe even beyond Costner.
Meanwhile, series fans are all waiting to see how Sheridan does in wrapping up season 5B of his neo-Western minus the man who headlined the show. Episodes have been filmed and will premiere on November 10, 2024, with most anticipating an end with John Dutton’s life. But it appears Sheridan did have the choice to keep the ranch owner breathing, after all, as Costner apparently is not against going back to the series he helped establish as the mega-hit it is.