Fans of “Yellowstone” are in for a whopper of a series finale even without star Kevin Costner, according to the show’s cast. The TV western, created by Taylor Sheridan, is returning for the second half of its fifth and final season on November 10 on the Paramount Network, closing a chapter in the tale of the cruel Dutton family. The Montana ranching dynasty has been battling for their legacy and land on the small screen since 2018.

Costner played the role of family patriarch John Dutton from the start but didn’t sign on for the final six episodes of “Yellowstone” owing to scheduling conflicts with his “Horizon: An American Saga” films. Nonetheless, the cast and one of the show’s producers have said his absence won’t dim the finale’s shine. “I read the last episode the day before we started filming,” Luke Grimes, who plays Costner’s son, Kayce Dutton, said in an interview with Entertainment Weekly .

“I couldn’t be happier. I think it’s a perfect ending for the show for every character. It’s just a testament to what a good writer Taylor is, and it’s a very, very profound, beautiful ending.

I can’t wait to sit down and watch it one day.” “Yellowstone” executive producer David Glasser also told EW that Sheridan knew how he wanted the show to end from the start. “Day one, episode one, Taylor said, ‘I know exactly how this ends,'” Glasser said.

“He told me the ending of the show when we were filming season 1,” star Kelly Reill.