Yellowstone is officially returning for a fifth season on Nov. 13. All of our favorite characters will be returning for the highly anticipated two-hour premiere. The official season 5 trailer has arrived, and it looks like the Duttons are getting ready for battle. Fan-favorites Beth Dutton, Rip Wheeler, and John Dutton (Kevin Costner) are all back for more juicy drama alongside some exciting new cast members joining for the new season. This might be the most exciting season yet.
"Yellowstone's record-breaking performance proves we've tapped a cultural nerve and unleashed a passionate audience from the center of the country to each of the coasts," Chris McCarthy, President and CEO, ViacomCBS Media Networks, said in a statement. "Kevin Costner leads our incredible cast who make the Duttons America's favorite family and, this new season is sure to be another one fans won't want to miss."
Over the course of its four seasons, the series has consistently remained a hit. The season four premiere had over 14 million total viewers and the finale delivered over 15 million total viewers. Season four was cable's highest-rated show, so undoubtedly, season five will just continue to break those records.
"We are honored to be able to bring audiences another season of Yellowstone. The continued growth in viewership and the recent recognition from the guilds bolsters our commitment to continue to bring groundbreaking entertainment to audiences," executive producer David C. Glasser, 101 Studios, said.
The Official Trailer
We see John Dutton becoming Montana's new governor, naming Beth his chief of staff. They are still battling Market Equities, and it seems every member of the Dutton family is continuing to make sacrifices for the family's sake and for their land. Not to mention, it looks like Jamie is back in the family fold and working for John again. This looks like it will potentially be the most dramatic season yet.
Movie Theater Premiere + Official Release Date
Mark your calendars for Sunday, Nov. 13! Historically the show has offered 10-episode seasons, and this time, we'll be getting 14, split into two installments. There's no word yet on when the second installment of episodes will be airing.
In an exciting new twist, fans will be able to watch the premiere two weeks early on Oct. 29. In addition to the big two-hour premiere, you'll also get to see the first episode of creator Taylor Sheridan's new series Tulsa King which stars Sylvester Stallone. Check here to see if you live near one of the 100 AMC theaters nationwide that will be participating in the screening.
Cast Updates + New Cast Members
Jen Landon - Our favorite (and only) girl in the bunkhouse, Teeter, has officially been upped to a series regular.
Kathryn Kelly - Season 4 newcomer Emily, who stole Jimmy's heart in Texas, has also been upped to a series regular.
Mo Brings Plenty - Chief Rainwater's right-hand man Mo has been a consistent face for four seasons. He's officially been upped to a series regular.
Wendy Moniz - Governor Lynelle Perry has been an occasional love interest for John Dutton throughout the series and now she's also coming back as a series regular. Sounds like John's run for governor will be a big part of the story.
Lainey Wilson - Country singer Lainey Wilson is joining the cast as a musician named Abby. Apparently, Taylor Sheridan created a special part for her after featuring her music in the series.
Josh Lucas - Young John Dutton is back! We'll be getting more family flashbacks from the Dutton family.
Kylie Rogers - Young Beth Dutton is also returning for more angsty drama.
Kyle Red Silverstein - Young Rip Wheeler is another returning character so maybe we'll see more early Beth/Rip love.
Kai Caster - Caster will be playing a new character, a cowboy named Rowdy.
Lilli Kay - Kay will be joining as Clara Brewer, a new assistant for one of the Duttons.
Dawn Olivieri - Fans might recall Olivieri from when she played Claire Dutton, James's sister, at the beginning of the prequel series 1883. She'll be joining the cast as Sarah Atwood, a new corporate shark in town.
Jimmy is coming back too
Though there was speculation that our favorite ranch hand wouldn't be returning due to the fact that he'll be starring in the new spinoff series set on the Four Sixes Ranch in Texas, rest assured Jimmy will be back.
"I'm in season 5. Jimmy's in season 5," Jefferson White told Us Weekly.
"I didn't know necessarily what Jimmy's future was. I still don't know exactly what Jimmy's future holds. I've really given up on trying to guess. What Taylor Sheridan, the show's creator — I think one of the best writers in television now or ever, definitely — comes up with is always so much better than what I could come up with. So I'm really excited that Jimmy's journey continues, and I have no idea where it leads and I'm just kind of ready to try to hold on."
Where is the show filming?
Like the previous season, the series is back up in the beautiful state of Montana.
Will there be more seasons?
Kelly Reilly opened up about the future of the hit series in an interview with Vulture.
"People keep saying, 'Is it the end? It must be the end,'" Reilly says of season 5. "It's not the end."
Well, that's reassuring! Whatever the future holds for Yellowstone Ranch, we feel confident that Taylor Sheridan will masterfully handle the storyline.
Following the dramatic season three cliffhanger of a finale, Sheridan told Deadline that there's a possibility that the show would end after six seasons.
"Well, I know how it ends. I know how the series ends, and you have to move in a straight line toward that end. You can't walk in circles, waiting to get there, because the show will stagnate," Sheridan said. "So, you have to keep moving forward, and there have to be consequences in the world, and there has to be an evolution toward a conclusion. Can that be another two seasons beyond this? It could."
"I don't see this as a procedural show. So, it's not something that we could extend indefinitely. I don't think anyone would want to do that; you'd cheapen the product. I haven't had that conversation with the network or the studio yet. I'm sure it's coming, but I would think that you would want this to end on an upswing as opposed to a plateau or a descent."
As much as we don't ever want the TV show to end, his logic makes sense. You don't want to keep the story going unnecessarily because we want to see the characters have a strong finish. Hopefully, we'll get more information on what the future holds once season five is released!
Editor's Note: This article was originally published in July of 2021. It was updated on Nov. 9.
