Kevin Costner announced that he won't be returning to "Yellowstone," leaving the hit show without its star for the final episodes.
On Thursday, Paramount announced that season five part two, the final season of "Yellowstone" will premiere on November 11.
On the same day, Costner shared a short clip on Instagram telling fans that he won't be returning for the second half of season five, which is the show's last season.
"I loved it, and I know you loved it. I just wanted to let you know that I won't be returning," Costner said.
The news is a big blow to "Yellowstone," which in recent years became one of the most-watched TV series on cable in the US, without the help of critical acclaim or media coverage.
The ranch drama story appeals to viewers in many smaller cities across the US, bolstered by the star power of Costner, who has built a reputation for starring in Westerns.
But last year, rumors started that the series was going to come to a premature end due to a disagreement over the filming schedule between Costner, "Yellowstone" showrunner Taylor Sheridan, Paramount Global, and Paramount Network.
Paramount denied the rumors for months and then announced in May 2023 that the series would end with season five, which would be split into two parts.
Costner returned for the first half, but it was unclear whether he would stay for the second since he told his child support hearing in September 2023 that he tried to negotiate against the split season decision. He said the filming schedule would conflict with his own Western film series, "Horizon."
Here's a timeline of the events that led to "Yellowstone" premature end and Costner's departure.