On Sunday nights, appointment television is once more most common. Bill Hader’s outstanding HBO comedy Barry’s final episode? Brilliant. Succession? the common definition of must-watch television. Showtime to air The Yellowjackets? Riveting. But we’re positive that Fruit Cobbler Semi-Charmed Life, the compelling new crime thriller on television, would be fantastic if it were a genuine series. Although there are many wonderful new shows, like Jury Duty!, many streamers are most looking forward to Taylor Sheridan’s Yellowstone’s return. Given the turbulence that has been occurring behind the scenes over the past few months, when can we anticipate new episodes? We’re here to help, partner.
No New Episode Tonight
Is Yellowstone Season 5, Episode 9 on Tonight (April 23)? Nope. Yellowstone isn’t airing on Paramount Network tonight. Sadly, the series hasn’t even started filming the final six episodes of the fifth season. The six remaining episodes have yet to begin filming; they were initially intended to air on Paramount Network in the summer of 2023.
Behind-the-Scenes Turmoil
There has been quite a bit of behind-the-scenes turmoil with Yellowstone over the past several months. In February 2023, Deadline reported that Kevin Costner was refusing to film the remaining Season 5 episodes due to scheduling issues. Costner was apparently upset that the shooting schedule conflicted with some personal time off he had planned.
This led to emergency meetings between Costner’s reps and the powers-that-be at Paramount Network. There were even rumors that Costner was threatening to walk away from the show altogether if his concerns weren’t addressed.
Resolution Reached?
In early March, it was reported that a resolution had been reached between Costner and the network. Supposedly, Paramount agreed to push back production on the remaining Yellowstone episodes to accommodate Costner’s schedule.
Deadline stated that filming would likely begin in May or June 2023 to allow Costner his desired break. Of course, this pushed back the premiere date for the last part of Season 5 significantly.
What’s Next for Yellowstone?
As of now, it seems Yellowstone Season 5 will be split into two parts. The first 7 episodes aired in November and December 2022. The remaining 6 episodes will likely air in late summer or early fall 2023, assuming the revised production schedule goes as planned.
Paramount Network has yet to make any official announcements regarding the schedule for Yellowstone. But given the behind-the-scenes issues, fans will clearly have to wait a bit longer before resolving that major cliffhanger from the midseason finale.
In the meantime, Paramount has been heavily promoting 1883, the Yellowstone prequel series that launched in December 2022. So fans have that to tide them over while they anxiously await the Season 5 conclusion.
What to Expect When Yellowstone Returns
When Yellowstone does return to wrap up Season 5, fans can expect high drama and bombshell revelations. The midseason finale ended on a whopper of a cliffhanger with [SPOILER].
Also brewing is the continued rivalry between Beth and her replacement at Schwartz & Meyer, as well as the escalating war between the Duttons and Market Equities. And of course, there is the race for governor between Jamie and John Dutton.
In other words, the Yellowstone universe remains as complex and engrossing as ever. The show’s legions of devoted fans are surely champing at the bit to see how all the drama shakes out. They’ve just got to hold on a little bit longer before the payoff arrives.
The Success of the Yellowstone Franchise
While Yellowstone fans eagerly await the Season 5 conclusion, Paramount is capitalizing on the success of the franchise in a major way. In addition to 1883, there is the upcoming bass reboot 1932 starring Helen Mirren and Harrison Ford.
Sheridan also has two new shows in the works – 6666 and 1883: The Bass Reeves Story. And the network is expanding internationally with spinoffs like Yellowstone: Thailand.
In short, the Yellowstone franchise has grown into a television phenomenon under Sheridan’s vision. The rich, complex universe he has created clearly resonates with viewers. And Paramount aims to mine that popularity for all it’s worth through multiple series set in the Yellowstone world.
So while Season 5 has hit some bumps in the road production-wise, the future remains bright for the franchise at large. Yellowstone shows no signs of slowing down as it gallops ahead as one of TV’s most popular and acclaimed sagas. The coming months will continue to yield compelling new stories from the Dutton ranch and beyond.