Kevin Costner Critiques ‘Yellowstone’ Finale: “We Should All Be in Prison”

Kevin Costner May Be Done With Yellowstone, But He’s Not Done Talking About It

Kevin Costner may have moved on from Yellowstone, but he’s still got plenty to say about the hit series — and his latest comments are raising eyebrows.

In a recent interview with Entertainment Tonight, Costner was promoting Horizon: An American Saga, his long-planned four-part Western epic. While reflecting on the 35th anniversary of his Oscar-winning Dances with Wolves, his attention quickly shifted to both Horizon and his time on Yellowstone.

“Horizon feels like thirty-five years ago,” he joked. “Part Two is done, and I hope to make Parts Three and Four.”

But with Horizon: Chapter 1 struggling at the box office and Chapter 2 pulled from the release schedule, Costner’s ambitious project now faces an uncertain future — made more complicated by the fact that his departure from Yellowstone was one of TV’s most publicized behind-the-scenes dramas.

Costner’s split from Yellowstone creator Taylor Sheridan — reportedly over scheduling conflicts and contract disputes — ultimately led to the off-screen death of his character, John Dutton, a move that changed the show’s trajectory and sparked mixed reactions from fans.

Costner’s Blunt Take on the Series

Despite the fallout, Costner isn’t entirely writing off his Yellowstone experience. Reflecting on why the show struck such a chord with audiences, he offered a sharp — and darkly humorous — observation.

“It’s modern-day ranching. Yellowstone was able to capture that so beautifully,” he said. “I mean, it’s a bit of a soap opera. We should all be in prison.”

The remark, while tongue-in-cheek, points to the show’s morally murky world — one filled with cover-ups, power plays, and plenty of questionable legal behavior. And while it may have been a playful jab, it also seemed like a subtle critique of how far the show leaned into its over-the-top drama in later seasons.

Still, Costner made it clear he holds no grudges.

“I loved the show,” he said. “I liked the people on the show. I liked what it was about. I love that world… I’ve always felt it might be an interesting moment to come back and finish the mythology of this modern-day family. And if that happens, I would step into it — if I agreed with how it was being done.”