(Photo by: Paramount Network)

Paramount Network previously announced that Yellowstone would return in November for the end of its fifth and final season. The popular series’ end and the long delay between episodes are due, at least in part, to star Kevin Costner’s (above, left) availability and desire to leave the show.

Series creator Taylor Sheridan recently spoke to THR about Costner’s exit and said there might be more than just six episodes left. “If I think it takes 10 episodes to wrap it up, they’ll give me 10,” Sheridan says. “It’ll be as long as it needs to be.”

It’s unknown if those episodes will include appearances by Costner. According to THR, “There are ongoing discussions to try to convince Costner to film a few scenes to wrap his character, though the scripts are not yet complete.”

Sheridan said the following about Costner’s exit from the Paramount Network series:

“My last conversation with Kevin was that he had this passion project he wanted to direct. He and the network were arguing about when he could be done with Yellowstone. I said, ‘We can certainly work a schedule toward [his preferred exit date],’ which we did.

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. 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. 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.

I’m disappointed. It truncates the closure of his character. It doesn’t alter it, but it truncates it.”

Sheridan hinted that Costner’s John Dutton was never intended to be around for the entire run of the show. Yellowstone was initially written as a movie, essentially The Godfather in Montana, and the end of the series will match what was in the movie script.

The return date for the second half of Yellowstone season five will be announced later. It will likely be delayed due to the ongoing writers strike. A spin-off sequel series has already been ordered.

What do you think? Will you be sad to see Yellowstone end? Will you watch the final episodes of the series even if Costner isn’t involved?