“Yellowstone” viewers, brace yourselves — because what’s believed to be the final episode of the hit cowboy series is almost here.
The show’s co-creator and writer, Taylor Sheridan, 54, saddled back behind the camera to direct the last episode of Season 5B, according to The Hollywood Reporter.
The final installment of the season, airing on Dec. 15, is titled “Life Is A Promise” and will be supersized, running one hour and 26 minutes.
“The fate of the Yellowstone Dutton Ranch is revealed” in the special season finale event, according to the logline, that airs at 8 p.m. on Paramount Network.
Sheridan wrote all the episodes of the beloved series and directed the first season, which aired in 2018. He let others take the reigns in Season 5, including executive producer Christina Voros, who directed the first four episodes of Season 5B. Last week’s episode, “Give the World Away,” was directed by executive producer Michael Friedman.
Sheridan has jumped out of the director’s chair and in front of the camera throughout the run of “Yellowstone” as Texas horse trainer Travis Wheatley. Fans were floored when Sheridan introduced real-life supermodel Bella Hadid as his girlfriend in last week’s episode, with some believing it was an unnecessary and bizarre move this late in the series.
There have been several blunders with Season 5B, including losing John Dutton, the leading man of “Yellowstone” played by Kevin Costner. Additionally, there was a long break between filming Season 5A and the second half (5B) due to the 2023 Hollywood strikes.
Following speculation of a feud with Sheridan, the 69-year-old actor confirmed his departure in June — and the Dutton patriarch was killed off in the first episode of 5B, to the dismay of fans, who believed he was owed a better farewell story.
Coster’s character was fatally shot by a hit man, who tried to make his death look like a suicide. It was later revealed that Sarah Atwood (Dawn Olivieri), the girlfriend of John’s son Jamie (Wes Bentley), orchestrated the murder plot.
In the following episode, a different hit man takes Sarah out — and the deaths on the range don’t end there.
Paramount Network announced that “Yellowstone” Season 5B would be the final season in the series; however, rumbles of a spinoff focusing on Rip Wheeler (Cole Hauser) and Beth Dutton (Kelly Reilly) were confirmed by Deadline on Wednesday.
Sheridan is reportedly working on the spinoff, which will likely feature other cast members from “Yellowstone” in addition to Reilly, 47, and Hauser, 49.
The outlet also reported that the show will be in the same present-day time frame as the flagship series.
There are several other “Yellowstone” spinoffs in the works, including an upcoming one called “The Madison” starring Michelle Pfeiffer, Matthew Fox, Kurt Russell and Patrick Adams.
“Yellowstone” has continued to pull in eyeballs without Costner, even having a record-setting return with the second part of the season.
The finale of “Yellowstone” Season 5B airs on Sunday, Dec. 15, at 8 p.m. on Paramount Network.
