How Will Yellowstone Fare Without Kevin Costner’s Influence? The Latest on His Alleged Behind-the-Scenes Feelings

With just a few months left until Yellowstone’s final episodes air in 2024, the production team is working tirelessly to prepare the remaining episodes for viewers who have waited two years. However, one notable absence is former star Kevin Costner, who reportedly doubts the show’s success without his “genius” involvement.

Costner’s departure was influenced by his commitment to his own multi-part epic, Horizon: An American Saga, and delays in Yellowstone’s production. Although he expressed a willingness to return if invited, no such request was made, and it seems he might relish the opportunity to see the show struggle without him.

Insiders suggest that Costner’s strained relationship with series co-creator Taylor Sheridan has led him to believe the series will falter without his input. He’s allegedly skeptical that the Yellowstone team can successfully conclude the series or its spinoffs without him.

As the show returns in November, it will need to address John Dutton’s absence from his family and ranch. While some speculated that Sheridan might kill off Dutton to explain Costner’s exit, this could risk alienating fans. Despite Costner’s public exit, some fans had hoped for a return, but with Kelly Reilly’s recent announcement that she has finished filming in Montana, it’s clear that Dutton’s absence is permanent.