After an action-packed finale, fans are eagerly awaiting Season 5 of "Yellowstone" on the Paramount Network. As expected, justice was served with the deaths of key players in the near-fatal attacks against John Dutton (Kevin Costner), his son Casey, and daughter Beth. But the enemy has not ceased to exist, and the Dutton family still faces numerous threats to the ranch.

Yellowstone became one of the biggest shows on television. The season 4 finale drew a series-high 9.3 million viewers on Live+Same Day. The explosive ratings led to the airing of Yellowstone's prequel "1883" on Paramount Plus, as well as the planned spin-off "6666."

The complex mix of family dynamics and business has led some to compare Yellowstone to a "ranching succcession" (although there are fewer memes). There are certainly parallels, especially in the antagonistic relationship between Beth Dutton (Kelly Reilly) and her adopted brother Jamie (Wes Bentley). Shades of Shiv and Roman.

But whereas "Succession" is all about betrayal in the boardroom, "Yellowstone" features real violence. All the characters are covered in blood. And the next film will be just as brutal, if not more so.

Here is what we know so far about Yellowstone Season 5.

Paramount Network has not officially ordered "Yellowstone" Season 5, but there is no doubt that the series will return. The only question is "when."

Yellowstone's first three seasons premiered on Father's Day in June. However, a pandemic overturned that schedule for Season 4, which debuted in November 2021.

Given the recent end of Season 4, Yellowstone Season 5 may not appear until late 2022 or early 2023.

At the very least, it appears that Yellowstone creator Taylor Sheridan has already written and is ready to shoot season 5; in March 2021, cast member Cole Hauser, who plays Rip, said so in an interview with HALL Wines.

"Taylor is working on it now, and I think she'll be back in July," Hauser said. 'Season 5 is going to be great. The way Season 4 ended--I can't say too much, but I think the way Season 4 ended, I think the audience will be pleasantly surprised."

Of course, Kevin Costner as John Dutton, the patriarch of the Yellowstone-Dutton Ranch, is at the top of the list.

Next are the actors playing John's children: Luke Grimes as Casey Dutton, John's son and former US Navy SEAL; Kelly Reilly as Beth Dutton, John's daughter and financier; and Jamie Dutton, John's adopted son, lawyer and aspiring politician Wes Bentley.

The following cast members are also expected to return:

Jefferson White as rancher Jimmy Hardstrom, who is expected to move to the spin-off 6666. [Season 5 of Yellowstone should pick up the major storylines left unresolved in the season 4 finale (find out how to watch Yellowstone online to catch up).

The biggest development is that Jamie shot and killed his biological father, Garrett Randall, who was planning an attack on his adoptive father and brothers. He disposes of the body at the "station," but while doing so, Beth takes his picture. His sister warns him, " You're mine now." Later, she tells John that Jamie is his "property."

The wayward kid now has a lot to lose, which does not bode well for his gubernatorial bid. John's path to the governorship seems clear.

Beth will probably use Jamie to attack Market Equities; CEO Carolyn Warner has fired Beth as a spy and declared the family's ranch a public toilet.

Meanwhile, Casey returned from his spiritual quest and ended with the urging that he must choose a path. Would he be the heir to the ranch, or would he take another path? Casey returns home and tells Monica, "I see the end of us."

As for John, he was upset that his activist/one-night stand lover, Summer, had received a stiff prison sentence at trial. But he promised to help her appeal. And soon he may be in an even stronger political position to do so.

Season 5 of "Yellowstone" isn't the only show to be released this year; check out our guide to the most anticipated shows of 2022.