Yellowstone Resumes Filming Last Episodes Post Strike Delays, Kevin Costner's Drama Continues

Yellowstones Last Episodes Have Finally Started Filming After Strike Delays Kevin Costner Drama

Kevin Costner Stephane Cardinale - Corbis/Corbis via Getty Images

Yellowstone's last six episodes are now officially in production after being delayed by strikes from SAG-AFTRA and WGA.

Paramount Network announced on Monday that production has begun on the second half of season 5, which was originally planned to air last summer. The popular series, produced by MTV Entertainment Studios and 101 Studios, is currently filming in Montana. The network's press release stated that the show is scheduled to return in November as previously announced.

Yellowstone fans have eagerly awaited the return of the Dutton family for over a year. The last time they were seen on TV was in January 2023, when the first half of season 5 concluded. Rumors spread that Kevin Costner, the star of the show, was causing delays due to his dissatisfaction with the filming schedule. However, his lawyer quickly dismissed these rumors. In May 2023, Paramount announced that Yellowstone would come to an end after the second half of season 5.

The show faced obstacles in 2023 due to strikes by the WGA and SAG-AFTRA, preventing filming for a significant period. Even after these work stoppages were lifted in September and November, respectively, there was no sign of progress on the final episodes of Yellowstone. The uncertainty continued as Kevin Costner, amid his divorce proceedings, stated in court documents that he had finished his work on the show and would not be returning for any additional episodes.

Costner, who is 69 years old, recently spoke out about the drama behind the scenes. He strongly denied the rumors that he was the reason for the delays in production.

In an interview with Deadline earlier this month, he expressed, “I have faced a lot of negativity from those individuals, and I am aware of where it is coming from. However, I have chosen not to engage in that. For those who know me well, they understand that Yellowstone was my top priority. To suggest otherwise would be incorrect. I did not start any of those issues. They did.”

He also clarified that his new movie, Horizon: An American Saga, did not clash with Yellowstone’s filming schedule, contrary to previous reports. He stated, "That’s not true, that’s a lie, that’s not correct. They sent me away for seven days to go to London, to go to England during Covid, to do [promotion]. They made the contract, and they picked the days."

According to Costner, the reason season 5B was not filmed is because there was no script ready. He explained, "I left exactly when they wanted, and it made it hard on me. It turns out they didn’t have the scripts for 5B. They needed four more days just to complete the first eight episodes. I left early to give them what they needed to have a complete eight, and I felt bad that the audience didn’t get 10."

He then decided to dedicate a week of his time to Yellowstone to finish the season. Even though he didn't really have that week to spare, he said, "I'll do that." He remembered how they twisted it to make it seem like he only wanted to work for a week.

Costner mentioned that he is open to returning to Yellowstone, but he didn't confirm if any decisions have been made regarding the future of his character, John Dutton. By the end of season 5A, John was serving as the governor of Montana, but his son Jamie was on the verge of calling for his impeachment. Meanwhile, his daughter Beth was prepared to kill Jamie, and John seemed to agree with that decision.

Yellowstone season 5B premieres on Paramount Network in November.

Editor's P/S:

The highly anticipated return of "Yellowstone" has been marred by production delays, rumors, and uncertainty. Despite the completion of the first half of season 5 over a year ago, the final six episodes have been held up due to strikes and ongoing behind-the-scenes issues. Kevin Costner, the show's star, has vehemently denied allegations of causing delays, citing a lack of scripts as the primary reason for the hiatus.

Costner's dedication to the show is evident in his willingness to dedicate a week of his time to complete the season, despite his busy schedule. However, the future of his character, John Dutton, remains uncertain. With the season finale looming, fans are eagerly awaiting the resolution of the Dutton family's political and personal conflicts. The return of "Yellowstone" in November promises to be a dramatic and emotional event, but the lingering questions surrounding Costner's involvement cast a shadow over the show's future.