The wait is finally over: Yellowstone Season 5, Part 2 is set to premiere on November 10, 2024. After months of suspense, fans are eager to know how the epic saga of the Dutton family will end, especially with major changes on the horizon. As we approach the finale of one of the most-watched shows in television history, the questions are pouring in—How will Yellowstone wrap up? Will John Dutton (Kevin Costner) get sent to the “train station”? And is Season 5B really the final chapter?
As these questions swirl, the Yellowstone team has gone to extreme lengths to keep spoilers from leaking, creating a level of secrecy that even seasoned TV crews have never seen before. Director Christina Voros, who helmed four out of the six episodes of the new season, recently shared how the show’s creators managed to pull off the ultimate “cloaking” of its secrets.
Here’s how the crew behind Yellowstone worked overtime to keep everything under wraps and why it’s all been worth it.
Secrets, Scripts, and Serious Measures: The Mission to Protect Yellowstone
Filming for Yellowstone Season 5, Part 2 was an exercise in high-level secrecy. With the show’s massive fanbase, and the added pressure following Kevin Costner’s controversial departure, the stakes couldn’t be higher. As Christina Voros explained in a recent interview with The Hollywood Reporter, even seasoned crew members who had worked on major franchises like the Marvel Cinematic Universe were blown away by the lengths Yellowstone went to protect its story.
“It was all borne out of protecting what Taylor and this cast and this family of creators has built over the years,” Voros said, emphasizing that the secrecy wasn’t about playing a game of “cloak and dagger,” but about preserving the viewing experience for the audience. After all, with the show’s devoted fan base, every plot twist is a treasure trove of spoilers waiting to be uncovered.
Here are the key elements of the intense security protocols they put in place:
1. Script Redactions: Gatekeeping the Narrative
In a move that might seem extreme to some, Yellowstone took script security to new heights. Director Voros herself took over the responsibility of redacting scripts for each cast member, ensuring that no one knew more than they needed to. The actors received only the scenes they were involved in, leaving them entirely in the dark about what would happen to the rest of the characters in the upcoming episodes.
“We didn’t have a script coordinator,” Voros revealed. “I took over that role and did the redactions for every cast member. Most of the cast only got the scenes they were in. So for a large portion of the cast, even for some of our seven-year veterans, they will be learning what happens when the show premieres.”
This level of secrecy not only prevented leaks but also created an atmosphere where actors were able to give fresh, authentic performances without the influence of outside spoilers.
2. Keeping the Crew In the Dark
It wasn’t just the cast that was kept in the dark. Yellowstone took the idea of compartmentalization to an entirely new level, even limiting the amount of information shared with key crew members. While department heads were in the know, most of the crew members only learned about the scenes they needed to be involved in. This strategy helped mitigate the risk of accidental leaks, as the fewer people who knew the full story, the less chance there was of information spilling out.
“We had very, very closed sets,” Voros explained. “We treated every scene really as if it was a closed set, so you had the same protocols as if you had nudity on set, where it was only key personnel at the monitors.” Essentially, only those who needed to know were given the full picture, making sure that the big reveals would be as surprising as possible for viewers.
3. Alternate Versions and “Code Words” for Extra Security
With such high stakes, Yellowstone went the extra mile by creating alternate versions of scenes. This included giving background artists slightly different lines and directions to avoid leaks from people who might not even be part of the main cast. Voros even mentioned that they had to devise clever code words to keep things under wraps. It was like running a top-secret operation where every move was strategic.
“We had code words for things,” she said, “and we shot a different version of the scene. You don’t want 150 people in an arena to go home and tell their families what they did that day.”
These secret strategies were meant to ensure that even the smallest details wouldn’t slip into the public consciousness.
Was It Because of Kevin Costner’s Departure?
Many fans have speculated that the ultra-secretive filming process might have been sparked by Kevin Costner’s departure from Yellowstone—and they’re not entirely wrong. When Costner announced his exit, it sparked a firestorm of speculation about how the show would handle his character, John Dutton. As the central figure in the show, Costner’s departure raised questions about whether Yellowstone would continue in its current form or bring the curtain down altogether.
Did the secrecy arise because of Kevin Costner’s exit?
Yes, according to Voros, it was a combination of factors, including the pressure surrounding Costner’s departure and the fact that Yellowstone had become such a cultural phenomenon. The show’s fans are incredibly passionate, and as Voros put it, “There was so much in the press about Kevin.” Naturally, there was an immense amount of anticipation surrounding how the show would handle his exit—and whether the Dutton family’s saga would come to a definitive conclusion.
However, it’s not just about Costner leaving. The creators had always planned to end the season in a way that would be “unexpected” and “riveting.” The stakes were high, and Taylor Sheridan was determined to keep the conclusion a surprise. But did that mean that Yellowstone would be over for good?
Is Yellowstone Really Ending With Season 5?
Now that we’ve tackled the secrecy, let’s get to the big question: Will Yellowstone Season 5B be the end of the series? As the show’s director, Christina Voros didn’t offer a definitive answer. While she confirmed that the final episodes were meant to serve as the conclusion, she also alluded to the idea that Sheridan’s storytelling might take the show in unexpected directions.
“I think Taylor has written something that is beautiful and surprising and unexpected,” Voros said. “The cast this year, after seven years of shooting this show, has grown into these roles so deeply that the performances are really next level.”
While Voros didn’t specifically confirm a Yellowstone Season 6, she did highlight that the show’s final episodes were “riveting” and “unexpected,” meaning there could still be more twists in the Dutton family’s saga than fans realize. Plus, with so much anticipation surrounding the series, it’s possible that the Yellowstone universe could live on in other forms, such as spin-offs, prequels, or sequels.
Taylor Sheridan has already expanded the Yellowstone universe with 1883 and 1923, and it’s safe to say that the Dutton legacy could continue in some form, even if this chapter of the story closes.
Conclusion: Secrets and Surprises Await in Yellowstone Season 5B
As Yellowstone Season 5B gears up for its November 10 premiere, fans can expect a season full of high-stakes drama, shocking twists, and emotional goodbyes. Thanks to Christina Voros and the entire Yellowstone team’s commitment to secrecy, the final episodes of the series (or at least this part of the story) are sure to be filled with surprises that no one saw coming.
So, what will happen to John Dutton? Will the Dutton family finally meet their end, or will they continue to rule the land with an iron fist? We’ll just have to wait until the premiere to find out. But one thing’s for sure: Yellowstone knows how to keep fans guessing.
