Soon, but Kevin Costner — who plays his character's father, John Dutton III — won't be with them. Costner's departure from the Paramount Network hit Yellowstone is official.

The future of the fifth and final season of the series has come into strange focus. The season - which consists of two parts and a total of 14 episodes - went on hiatus in early 2023.

The schedule was pushed back after some ridiculous behind-the-scenes drama, as well as the added challenges of the year's WGA and SAG-AFTRA strikes.

Yellowstone season 5 finally returns on May 20, 2024, is currently shooting its final episodes — but Costner has made it clear

Will not participate, not in these episodes, and not in Yellowstone's future. Here's everything you need to know about this surprising turn of events.

The final episodes were scheduled to air in 2023, but the first actor and producer faced a major setback in the form of tension.

Costner and Yellowstone show runner Taylor Sheridan set the shooting schedule for the series, and Sheridan and the Paramount network have reportedly chosen to move forward with a series starring Matthew McConaughey.

Whether or not Costner returns to the original. Finally, in early May 2023, Entertainment Tonight reported that Costner would officially exit the major series after season 5