Kevin Costner Addresses False Rumors About His Departure from Yellowstone: ‘I Loved the Show’
Kevin Costner has made it clear: his time on the hit series Yellowstone was truly cherished.
“I loved the show,” the Oscar-winning actor shares in this week’s cover story for PEOPLE’s annual 100 Reasons to Love America issue.
“I enjoyed working with the cast, appreciated the show’s themes, and was captivated by that world.”
Costner’s deep connection to the series is one reason why the controversy surrounding his exit was particularly painful for him. He portrayed patriarch John Dutton III for five seasons, from 2018 to 2022. Despite keeping Yellowstone a priority for over a year while waiting for the next season’s scripts and schedule, he ultimately found that “the scripts weren’t there.”
He pushes back against claims that he left due to his ambitious film Horizon: An American Saga, which is set to debut on June 28, or that he only offered a week of his time. In reality, Costner had prioritized Yellowstone after initially agreeing to just one season.
“When Taylor [Sheridan] first pitched it to me, it was just one season, more like a long movie—which appealed to me,” he recalls. “But ultimately, the studio had a different vision. Taylor, being a prolific writer, said he could expand it into a series.”
Costner willingly committed to “three seasons,” and ended up doing five. He was open to continuing but was left without a timeline or new material. “There was a moment when I didn’t hear anything for 14 months,” he explains. “I could have taken on many other projects during that time, but I wasn’t aware that this delay would happen.”
Despite the swirling rumors, Costner remained silent, feeling “disappointed” that no one defended him. “I read all the stories and was disappointed that no one on their side ever spoke up for what I had contributed,” he reflects. “I wondered when someone would acknowledge my efforts versus the rumors.”
He was initially drawn to the project for its compelling writing and was eager to collaborate with Sheridan. “I really liked what Taylor was doing. He understood modern ranching and wove effective drama around it,” he notes.
Costner remains open to returning to the series, should the right script and scenario arise. “If the timing and story align, it could be interesting to return and finish the mythology of this modern family,” he says. “I would be willing to consider it, as long as I agreed with the direction.”
However, he adds, “In the end, I couldn’t do any more than I had already committed.”
