Kevin Costner Breaks Silence on ‘Yellowstone’ Exit, Calls Show a ‘Soap Opera’
Kevin Costner Reflects on ‘Yellowstone’ Exit and Calls the Show a “Soap Opera”
Kevin Costner, who famously portrayed John Dutton in the hit Western drama Yellowstone, has made a rare comment about the show’s ending—an ending that occurred after his controversial departure amid rising tensions with the series’ creator, Taylor Sheridan.
Reflecting on the show, Costner remarked:
“Well, it’s modern-day ranching. Yellowstone was able to capture that really so beautifully. I mean, it’s a bit of a soap opera. I mean, we all should be in prison.”
When asked specifically about the series finale, Costner was dismissive, saying:
“I’m not thinking about [the Yellowstone finale], I don’t think I’ve given it any thought. We’ll just let it go.”
Why Did Kevin Costner Leave Yellowstone?
The breakdown reportedly stemmed from scheduling conflicts between Costner’s work on his passion project, Horizon: An American Saga, and the filming timeline for Yellowstone Season 5. Tensions escalated over the production schedule, which led to increasing friction between Costner and Sheridan.
Sheridan addressed the situation, saying:
“I’ve never had an issue with Kevin that he and I couldn’t work out on the phone… Once lawyers get involved, then people don’t get to talk to each other and start saying things that aren’t true and attempt to shift blame based on how the press or public seem to be reacting.”
He continued,
“Kevin took a lot of this on the chin, and I don’t know that anyone deserves it. [Horizon] seems to be a great priority to him and he wants to shift focus. I sure hope the movie is worth it — and that it’s a good one.”
In response, Costner’s attorney Marty Singer pushed back on rumors, stating:
“The idea that Kevin was only willing to work one week on the second half of Season 5 of Yellowstone is an absolute lie. It’s ridiculous — and anyone suggesting it shouldn’t be believed for one second.”
Officially Exiting Before Season 5B
Costner later confirmed his departure in a heartfelt video shared on Instagram:
“I want to reach out and let you know that after this long year and a half of working on Horizon and doing all the things that’s required, and thinking about Yellowstone, that beloved series that I love, that I know you love, I just realized that I’m not going to be able to continue with Season 5B or into the future.
It was something that really changed me. I loved it. And I know you loved it. And I just wanted to let you know that I won’t be returning — and I love the relationship we’ve been able to develop. I’ll see you at the movies.”
