“Kevin Costner Shares the Truth About Brutally Leaving Taylor Sheridan’s ‘Yellowstone'”
It’s been over a year since the surprising announcement that Kevin Costner, the two-time Oscar winner known for Dances With Wolves, would be stepping away from the hit western drama Yellowstone. Reportedly due to creative differences with series creator Taylor Sheridan and Costner’s desire to focus on his longtime passion project, Horizon: An American Saga, the show’s leading man parted ways with one of television’s biggest successes.
Despite the behind-the-scenes drama, Yellowstone didn’t falter in popularity. In fact, the first episode aired without Costner became the most-watched in the series’ history — though the Field of Dreams actor later admitted he wasn’t even aware it had aired. What was once seen as a fruitful creative collaboration now appears to have ended on strained terms.
In a recent interview, Costner opened up about his departure and offered a blunt explanation for why he didn’t return for the show’s final episodes.
“I’m willing to do anything where I feel like what I’m doing is for myself,” he said. “It doesn’t have to be a Western. It could be something entirely different. But when something no longer interests me, or there’s another reason I need to move on, I’m okay with that.”
He went on to reflect more broadly on his creative process:
“You can write a short story, a novel, or make a short film — if it’s told well, it can live forever. The goal is for people to connect with what I create. That’s the legacy of great storytelling — it lasts. My hope is to remain relevant not just to myself, but to others who discover my work. I can’t make something just to reach people. I can only make something that’s true to me and hope it resonates with them.”
What Is the Highest-Rated Season of Yellowstone?
While Yellowstone has grown into one of the most respected and watched shows of the past decade, its debut wasn’t met with unanimous praise. The first season holds just a 58% critics score on Rotten Tomatoes — though audiences were more generous, giving it an 83%.
Interestingly, the highest-rated season by critics is Season 3, which earned a perfect 100% score on Rotten Tomatoes. It’s widely regarded by fans and reviewers as the series’ creative peak. In contrast, the most recent season — especially without Costner — received some of the lowest ratings, particularly from viewers.
