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Wes Bentley, Gil Birmingham, Kelly Reilly, Kevin Costner, Cole Hauser, Kelsey Chow and Luke Grimes attend Paramount Network's "Yellowstone" Season 2 Premiere Party at Lombardi House on May 30, 2019 in Los Angeles, California. (Photo by Frazer Harrison/Getty Images for Paramount Network)© Frazer Harrison

Yellowstone stars speak out on 'heartbreaking' end of show without Kevin Costner

The final episodes of the hit Taylor Sheridan show premiere November 10

Beatriz Colon
Beatriz Colon - New York
New York WriterNew York
2 days ago
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After six years, five seasons, several unexpected delays, back and forths and some disputes, Yellowstone is officially coming to an end, without its lead star Kevin Costner.

We last saw the Yellowstone crew in November of 2022, when the first part of the oversized fifth season — now set to be the last — concluded with a seventh episode. Seven more episodes were initially meant to be released in the summer, though those are now set to premiere tonight.

Now, ahead of the bittersweet ending, its cast is reflecting on what that journey coming to an end means.

TRAILER: Final Yellowstone season

During the premiere of the final installment, the cast of Yellowstone, which includes Cole Hauser, Kelly Reilly, Luke Grimes, Wes Bentley, Ian Bohen and Gil Birmingham, among others, was asked by Entertainment Tonight on the red carpet what is one word they would use to describe this moment.

Among the cast's word or words of choice were profound, beautiful, heartbreaking, epic, tipping point, astonishing, cathartic, deeply moving, and bittersweet.

Though it was rumored long before, Kevin confirmed he wasn't returning to Yellowstone in a video message on Instagram last May, in which he said: "I just wanted 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," adding: "And thinking about Yellowstone — that beloved series that I love, that I know you love — I just realized that I am not going to be able to continue season 5-B, or into the future."

Luke Grimes, Wes Bentley, Kelly Reilly, Kelsey Asbille, and Cole Hauser attend the Yellowstone Season 5 Part 2 premiere at Museum of Modern Art on November 07, 2024 in New York City© Getty
The cast at the premiere on November 7

Prior to that, Chris McCarthy, President & CEO Showtime/MTV Entertainment Studios, said in a statement: "Yellowstone has been the cornerstone on which we have launched an entire universe of global hits — from 1883 to Tulsa King — and I am confident our Yellowstone sequel will be another big hit, thanks to the brilliant creative mind of Taylor Sheridan and our incredible casts who bring these shows to life."

MORE: The new Yellowstone? Fans full of praise for intense Netflix drama

MORE: Yellowstone's Cole Hauser teases new storyline for Rip and Beth in season 5B

David Glasser, CEO of 101 Studios and executive producer of Yellowstone, added, "The Dutton story continues, picking up where Yellowstone leaves off in another epic tale.  We are thrilled to bring this new journey to audiences around the world."

Luke Grimes, Wes Bentley, Kelly Reilly, Kelsey Asbille, Cole Hauser and Gil Birmingham attend Paramount Network's "Yellowstone" season 5B NYC premiere© Getty
Luke Grimes, Wes Bentley, Kelly Reilly, Kelsey Asbille, Cole Hauser and Gil Birmingham

Still, despite the ending being bittersweet, Luke, who stars as Kayce Dutton, promises it's as "juicy" as it gets. Speaking on a featurette clip that's set to appear on the show's latest DVD and Blu-ray release shared with Entertainment Tonight earlier this year, the actor teased what fans can expect from the show's conclusion, and delved into why it became such a hit after its 2018 premiere.

MORE: Yellowstone's Luke Grimes looks besotted with adorable newborn son in first family photo

Kelly Reilly and Kevin Costner in Yellowstone© Paramount
Kelly and Kevin on the show

He reflected: "Love and family and serve your tribe, your people — that's a huge theme in the show. With Kayce, he has a hard time choosing his relationship with his father versus his relationship with his wife and son," adding: "I think it's because it all really matters and it matters to all of the characters."

MORE: Yellowstone star's new role revealed — and fans are delighted

(L-R) Wes Bentley, Gil Birmingham, Kelly Reilly, Kevin Costner, Cole Hauser, Kelsey Asbille and Luke Grimes © Axelle/Bauer-Griffin
The cast back in 2019

Luke then explained: "That's sort of where you get all of this really juicy drama, is that everyone is sort of fighting for their team."

Still, he noted: "There's no right team or wrong team, it's just a bunch of people trying to figure out how to do what's best for their own."

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