‘Yellowstone’ cast shares Season 5 set photos after Kevin Costner’s official exit
The cast of “Yellowstone” is back on set for the final episodes of the hit Paramount+ series.
While Kevin Costner won’t return to Dutton Ranch, Instagram updates from Ryan Bingham, Jen Landon, Cole Hauser, Ian Bohen and Forrie J. Smith confirm production is in full swing.
Hauser, 49, has played ranch hand Rip Wheeler since the show’s debut in 2018. He shared a photo via Instagram of Montana’s scenic views with a rainbow in the sky on May 23.
“Good morning #montana I’ve missed ya old friend! If you are going to rise, you might as well shine,” he wrote at the time.
The actor has deep ties to the state — his great-grandfather, Samuel Hauser, was Montana’s seventh governor from 1885 to 1887.
Bingham, who plays Walker, shared a selfie featuring Landon (Teeter) and Jake Ream (Jake) and wrote: “Back on the Stone.” Landon shared the same selfie to her Instagram account, captioning the picture “Summer Roadtrip ✨”
Bingham, 43, also posted a video driving through the Montana roads as snow fell in June, writing: “Snow is falling in June. @yellowstone #Montana.”
More recently, he and co-star Hassie Harrison tied the knot at Harrison’s family farm in Texas in May.
Landon, 40, meanwhile, thanked her trainers for preparing her for the upcoming season. On June 17, she shared a video of herself lassoing, and wrote: “#yellowstone #roping #teamroping.”
Known for playing Lloyd on the show, Forrie J. Smith, is just as much of a cowboy in real life.
On June 26, Smith shared a video of horses and a stunning Montana sunset. “#country #cowboy #western #yellowstone #yellowstonetv,” he wrote. On May 16, he also told fans he was “back in Montana, finishing up Yellowstone.”
Additionally, Ian Bohen, who plays Ryan, posted a video of himself riding a horse. “That flag ain’t got no chance cause I got dancin’ boots when I’m on the ranch now check out this steed and boy watch him prance. #cutting @yellowstone #FinalSeason @paramountnetwork,” he wrote via Instagram on June 14.
Other cast members — including Gil Birmingham, Brecken Merrill, Denim Richards and Finn Little — have reposted Paramount’s promo pictures to their Instagram accounts.
The cast will be without patriarch John Dutton for its final episodes. Kevin Costner officially confirmed on June 20 that he is not returning.
“Thinking about Yellowstone, that beloved series that I love, that I know you love. I just realized that I’m not going to be able to continue, Season 5 or into the future,” the Oscar-winning actor, 69, said in an Instagram post.
“I loved it and I know you loved it. I just wanted to let you know that I won’t be returning,” he shared. “I love the relationships that I’ve been able to develop. And I’ll see you at the movies.
Costner has instead been focused on his new western film, “Horizon: An American Saga.”
“I just want to reach out and let you know that after this long year and a half of working on ‘Horizon’ and doing all the things that that’s required,” he said in the clip.
In May 2023, rumors surfaced that Costner would not return to “Yellowstone.” Then, it was announced that same month that the show would end with Season 5, leading to speculation that it was ending partly because Costner was leaving.
“Kevin has been a big part of Yellowstone’s success,” a Paramount Network spokesperson said in a statement to The Post. “While we had hoped that we would continue working with him, unfortunately, we could not find a window that worked for him, all the other talent and our production needs in order to move forward together. We respect that Kevin has prioritized his new film series and we wish him the best.”
There was ongoing speculation of tension between Costner and creator Taylor Sheridan, too.
Costner stressed that he “loved” the show and would go back “in a second,” but refused to divulge information on what really happened during his appearance on the June 27 episode of CBS Mornings.
“But the characterization of you isn’t necessarily flattering,” host Gayle King told him. “You made demands, you want to have a certain schedule, you want to shoot at a certain time, you want certain money.”
King, 69, added: “If it’s not that hard, why can’t the two of you be able to work it out? People would love to see that.”
Costner, shutting down the rumors and her line of questioning, replied: “It’s not therapy, Gayle.”
“We’re not going to discuss this on the show really, honestly,” he remarked.
In an interview with the Hollywood Reporter in June 2023, Sheridan said, “My opinion of Kevin as an actor hasn’t altered.”
“His creation of John Dutton is symbolic and powerful … and I’ve never had an issue with Kevin that he and I couldn’t work out on the phone,” Sheridan told THR. “But once lawyers get involved, then people don’t get to talk to each other and start saying things that aren’t true and attempt to shift blame based on how the press or public seem to be reacting. He took a lot of this on the chin and I don’t know that anyone deserves it.”
Sheridan also mentioned Costner’s four-film saga, “Horizon,” in which he wrote, directed, produced and stars in.
“His movie seems to be a great priority to him and he wants to shift focus. I sure hope [the movie is] worth it — and that it’s a good one,” Sheridan said of the first film.
On Costner’s overall exit from the show, Sheridan added: “I’m disappointed. It truncates the closure of his character. It doesn’t alter it, but it truncates it.”
THR reported that the creator hinted that the family patriarch was never intended to survive until the end of the series, though Sheridan didn’t elaborate at the time of the interview.
In May, weeks before Costner revealed his official exit, he slammed the “Yellowstone” team for not defending him amid the speculation that he was causing issues for the show.
“I have taken a beating from those f – – king guys, and I know a lot of times where it’s coming from. I just elected not to get into that. But if you know me well enough, I made ‘Yellowstone’ the first priority, and to insinuate anything else would be wrong. I did not initiate any of those things. They did,” Costner told Deadline.
The first half of “Yellowstone” Season 5 aired between November 2022 and January 2023.
With several prequel series and a contemporary spinoff in the works, the original installment was set to conclude in late 2023. The WGA and SAG strikes delayed production of the final episodes.
“Yellowstone” also stars Luke Grimes, Kelly Reilly, Wes Bentley and Kelsey Asbille.
The final episodes are shooting now and are scheduled to air on Nov. 10, 2024. It will have six episodes.
