Why Did Kevin Costner Decide to Leave ‘Yellowstone’ After 5 Seasons as Its Main Character?

“Yellowstone,” the hit Western series, stars Kevin Costner in the unforgettable role of John Dutton, a rugged rancher fighting to protect his family's land in Montana against relentless outside threats. Since its explosive 2018 premiere, Costner has anchored the show across 53 episodes. But in a surprising turn, he chose to exit after the first half of season 5 (5A), its final season, for various reasons.

Ahead of “Yellowstone's” season 5B return on November 10, 2024, Costner was asked how he described his character's presence, given his limited appearance in the trailer. He replied, “His presence is integral. I think to say any more than that would potentially compromise all the work that went into redacting the scripts!”

Laughing, he added, “But I think the reason people are wondering, ‘Is he, isn't he? Where is he, where is he not?' is because he is the patriarch, and his presence is an essential component to the story. John Dutton is still central.”

While the show's co-creator and writer, Taylor Sheridan, typically keeps scripts under wraps, some speculated that heightened secrecy might be due to several factors. Director Christina Voros was asked if this was because of Costner's exit, the final season billing of 5B, or the show's heightened popularity raising expectations.

Voros confirmed that all these factors played a role and noted that with such a beloved show, fans developed ideas about its ending. According to her, Sheridan crafted a beautiful, surprising, riveting, and unexpected conclusion.

The director continued, “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.”

She explained that the actors, who understand their characters as well as Sheridan, have invested a lifetime of work into building these roles. Voros concluded by saying, “The performances this year are just exceptional.”

Shifting back to Costner's departure, it appears that there were clashes over his filming schedule. Sources indicate that Costner initially allocated 65 days for “Yellowstone” but later sought to reduce his time to 50 days for season 5.

For the latter half of the season, the Golden Globes winner allegedly only intended to shoot for one week due to commitments to another project.

By February 2023, Costner was already directing and starring in his multi-part Western film series, “Horizon: An American Saga.” He co-wrote the series with Jon Baird, and the films were picked up by New Line and Warner Bros. Pictures.

With Costner still portraying John Dutton, his work on his personal project reportedly frustrated Sheridan, leading to morale issues among the actor's co-stars.

In 2023, sources revealed that Paramount Network declined Costner's proposal, opting to pursue a different series. A potential “Yellowstone” franchise extension was hinted at, with Matthew McConaughey possibly stepping in as the new lead. Reports indicate that McConaughey is in negotiations.

When asked in May 2024 about his position with “Yellowstone” while balancing other commitments, Costner admitted, “Well, I haven't felt good about it the last year, what with the way they've talked about it. It wasn't truthful.”

The star explained that his original contract covered five to seven seasons, but a renegotiated contract in February 2024 covered only seasons 5A and B, with a possible season six.

However, he noted, “They weren't able to make those.” He added, “‘Horizon' was set in the middle, but ‘Yellowstone' was first position. I fit [Horizon] into the gaps. They just kept moving their gaps.”

Before “Horizon” premiered at the 2024 Cannes Film Festival, Costner shared his excitement about presenting his film there.

“I'm so thrilled to be going there,” he said. “And listen, I don't want to get down in the gutter with the ‘Yellowstone' thing, but what I'm telling you is straight up,” Costner added. Without specifics, he expressed dissatisfaction with certain “Yellowstone” colleagues.

He stated, “But if you know me well enough, I made ‘Yellowstone' the first priority, and to insinuate anything else would be wrong. I did not initiate any of those things. They did. They were doing a tap dance, and this poor guy was also having to write so much.”

The actor mentioned that he didn't understand why the “Yellowstone” team didn't defend him, though he chose not to dwell on it, focusing instead on promoting his film. He noted, “They've been pretty slick about keeping their hands off; nobody was ever on the record.”

Costner stated he didn't shoot 5B because there was no script. He even left his film to meet “Yellowstone's” schedule for 5B, only to find the first eight episodes were incomplete, requiring four additional days to finish.

He revealed, “I left early to give them what they needed to have a complete eight, and I felt bad that the audience didn't get 10. They didn't have the scripts for anything else.” The actor continued, “So, what you read in the end was that I said, ‘Well, look, I'm doing my movie. If you want me to work a week because you want to kill me or whatever else, I can give you a week.'”

Costner didn't have an extra week to spare but was willing to compromise. His words were misinterpreted, resulting in claims that he “only wanted to work a week.”

Costner's Departure and Fan Reactions

.In June 2024, Costner announced his departure from “Yellowstone” in an Instagram video. He shared that after working on “Horizon” for a year and a half, he reflected on the series he and his fans loved.

“I just realized that I'm not going to be able to continue Season 5B or into the future,” the actor admitted, and while he acknowledged loving the show, he announced, “I just wanted to let you know that I won't be returning, and I love the relationship we've been able to develop, and I'll see you at the movies.”

The backlash followed, with one fan of the show stating, “That's super disappointing 😢😢.” Another remarked, “Welp, thanks for failing all of us,” and one fan added, “You let Yellowstone fans down.”

A disappointed fan also noted, “You should have at least finished YS. Bad form, so disappointing.” Another echoed, “Shame on you,” while a final fan declared, “Bad decision, man!”

Fans weren't the only ones reacting to his departure; Sheridan also had his own take. The show's co-creator remarked, “My opinion of Kevin as an actor hasn't altered,” while praising Costner's portrayal of his character as powerful and symbolic.

He explained that while he and the star could typically resolve issues through conversation, legal involvement disrupted communication, leading to misunderstandings. Sheridan noted that media reactions seemed to shift blame.

Commending Costner, he remarked, “He took a lot of this on the chin, and I don't know that anyone deserves it.” Sheridan noted that Kevin Costner appeared to prioritize and his film project over “Yellowstone.”

Without expressing ill will, he stated, “I sure hope [the movie is] worth it — and that it's a good one.” However, he also admitted disappointment, adding, “It truncates the closure of his character. It doesn't alter it, but it truncates it.”

Asked if confirming his departure was difficult, Costner told a publication, “It wasn't tough.” He explained that moving forward was essential for him, and he chose not to dwell on it any longer.

The actor reiterated that he had dedicated five seasons to “Yellowstone” and had enjoyed his role. But to avoid drama, stop speculation, and honor his fans, he felt it was his duty “to go on and continue to make things that mean something to them.”

Now focused on his independent film series, Costner premiered “Horizon: Chapter 1” in theaters in June 2024, with “Chapter 2” debuting at the Venice Film Festival in September. Two additional chapters are planned, and while Costner has started work on “Chapter 3,” reports indicate he requires additional funding to complete the project.

The star spent 35 years trying to make his four-part saga, marking a significant milestone.