Yellowstone Cast Reveals “Challenging” Series End Without Kevin Costner

The time has come to close the barn doors on Yellowstone.

After Kevin Costner—who played patriarch John Dutton III—exited the show midway through season five, the journey to the series finale became a dirt road filled with many obstacles, all leading up to its part two premiere Nov. 10.

“It feels like every year there's been some crazy new challenges, not unlike this year,” Luke Grimes, who plays Kayce Dutton on the show, exclusively told E! News. “There was a big, new challenge, but, you know, challenge accepted.”

And despite Costner’s exit, Grimes noted that the fifth season “was absolutely incredible and couldn't have been better any other way.”

Grimes’ onscreen sister Kelly Reilly agreed that the cast had a positive experience working on the final season—which airs Sundays on Paramount Network—even teasing that Yellowstone’s end doesn’t mean saying goodbye to the actors forever. (In fact, prequel series 1883 and 1923 have already been released, and more spinoff series are in development, including the Michelle Pfeiffer-led show The Madison and the Billy Bob Thornton-led drama Landman.) 

“All good things have to end,” she shared with E!. “It doesn't mean to say there isn't going to be new stories to tell. No decisions have been made on that. It has to be right.”

As for how Reilly’s costars feel about about appearing in another drama by Yellowstone creator Taylor Sheridan in the future? They’re ready to saddle up. 

“I think if it was Taylor writing it, we would all agree that we would do it,” Grimes added. “If it’s a bunch of other people writing it, it feels [sacrilegious]. These are his characters that he came up with and I just don’t see it being good any other way. It’s a world he created. So, yes for Taylor, absolutely.”

Cole Hauser, who plays Reilly’s onscreen husband, also chimed in with his support to reprise his role under the right circumstances.

“We wouldn’t do it if Taylor Sheridan wasn’t involved,” he said. “He’d have to be involved.”

But until then, series star Kelsey Asbille is ready for fans to appreciate the final chapter of Sheridan’s work on Yellowstone after six years.

“He's such an incredible writer,” she explained. “I was so excited to see how it was really going to come to life. And we're also fans first. I think we just love the story. So, it's a perfect ending.”