Yellowstone star Ian Bohen says show will have 'best series finale in history'

Fans of the wildly popular Western epic series Yellowstone have been eagerly waiting for the second half of its fifth and final season.

Its been about a year-and-a-half since the first eight episodes premiered on the Paramount Network, while show reps began teasing the back half of the season would follow in 2023.

But all the production and premiere dates that were once set have since been thrown into disarray due to the 2023 Writers Guild of America strike, which began in May 2-September 27, the SAG-AFTRA strike, that lasted from July 14 to November 9, and the departure of leading man Kevin Costner.

Following the resolution of the strike, it appears the cast and crew are back in the saddle again to shoot the remaining six episodes, and co-star Ian Bohen is letting it be known 'fans are going to get the [best] conclusion that could possibly be written.'  

'Everything will land in a way that is perfectly set,' the actor, who plays Yellowstone Ranch branded cowboy Ryan, told Entertainment Tonight.

'A lot of shows just kind of finish... and they don't satisfy you. This will be completed in a way that it will make sense.'

Ian Bohen, 47, offered up some high praise for the upcoming second half of the fifth and final season of Yellowstone following delays due to the 2023 SAG-AFTRA strike and the departure of the show's leading man Kevin Costner

Bohen, who plays branded Yellowstone Ranch cowboy Ryan, let it be known 'fans are going to get the [best] conclusion that could possibly be written'

Sounding extremely confident with his assessment of the remaining episodes, Bohen said he doesn't think any other show 'has finished this strongly ever.'

'We're expecting to have the best series finale in history. Overconfident maybe, but I think that's what it's going to be. We thank everyone for their patience... It'll be worth the wait, I promise,' the former Mad Man star promised.

While recalling the show's dedicated fanbase during its run on television that started in June 2018, the Carmel, California native said all the extra attention makes him feel like he's 'part of something much bigger than just an entertainment product.'

'It touches people in a way that is different than just something that they're fans of. 'It's a cultural phenomenon,' he proudly explained. 'It makes you feel like the work that you're doing is more important than you ever thought it would be.' 

Bohen, 47, started out as a recurring cast member at the start of the series before joining the main cast in seasons four and five.

This modern-day western follows the Duttons, who own the largest ranch in Montana and employ a ruthless mix of business, politics and violence to hold on to ever acre of land the family has owned for more than a century.

Along with Bohen and Costner, who leads the family's fight to hold on to its legacy in Montana, the cast also includes Kelly Reilly (Beth Dutton), Luke Grimes (Kayce Dutton), Cole Hauser (Rip Wheeler), Wes Bently (Jamie Dutton ), Kelsey Asbille (Monica Long), Gil Birmingham (Chief Thomas Rainwater), Danny Huston (Dan Jenkins), Wendy Moniz (Governor/Senator Lynelle Perry) and Brecken Merrill (Tate Dutton), among many others.

Back in May 2023, Entertainment Tonight reported that Costner would not be returning to Yellowstone after season five. But then the following September there was chatter that Costner wanted to come back to wrap up his character and the show.

'Everything will land in a way that is perfectly set,' the actor told Entertainment Tonight. 'A lot of shows just kind of finish... and they don't satisfy you. This will be completed in a way that it will make sense'

Bohen started out as a recurring cast member at the start of the series before joining the main cast in seasons four and five.

Still, after meetings with co-creator Taylor Sheridan, a schedule for the shoot couldn't get finalized, according to reports by a number of publications such as Vulture.

Then, earlier this April Costner was talking about returning again, all the while Sheridan had already written most of the last episodes without Costner back as John Dutton III.

It's believed Costner has been more focused on passion projects like directing and starring in the upcoming Western epic Horizon: An American Saga, while Sheridan has been busy with numerous Yellowstone spin-offs such as the prequels 1883 (2021-2022) and 1923 (2022-present), wand the upcoming sequels 1944, 2024 and 6666.

'I’d like to be able to do it, but we haven't been able to,' the Dances With Wolves actor told Entertainment Tonight of Yellowstone on April 10. 'I thought I was going to make seven [seasons] but right now we're at five. So how it works out — I hope it does — but they've got a lot of different shows going on. Maybe it will. Maybe this will circle back to me.'

He added: 'If it does and I feel really comfortable with [it], I’d love to do it.' 

Yellowstone's second half of season five has been out on hold this past year due to the 2023 WGA stike, the 2023 SAG-AFTRA strike, and the dispute with leading man Kevin Costner

Despite all the talk that Costner has left the show to keep the focus on his passion projects, there has been chatter in April about Costner making  a cameo or having a small role in the upcoming final half of season of Yellowstone 

Earlier this month, reports surfaced that Costner is still planning on returning for the final season, according to Puck, 'for at least a cameo and possibly more.'

So far, there hasn't been any official word on what his presence, if any, will be in the final episodes.

The first four-and-a- half seasons of Yellowstone are currently streaming on the Peacock streaming platform.

The much-anticipated second half of season five, consisting of six new episodes, is now scheduled to air on November 10.