Kevin Costner Discusses His Choice to Depart from ‘Yellowstone’
Kevin Costner has opened up about his decision to leave the hit TV show Yellowstone and explained why he chose to announce it now.
The actor and director shared that it felt right to confirm he won’t be reprising his role as John Dutton in the upcoming final episodes of Horizon: An American Saga, set to premiere on November 10. This announcement came in conjunction with Paramount Network’s launch date announcement, amidst ongoing speculation about his potential return while the last episodes of Yellowstone were still in production.
“It wasn’t tough,” Costner told The Hollywood Reporter on June 20 when asked about the difficulty of making the long-anticipated news official. “It was a necessary decision to say, ‘Hey, okay I don’t want to really talk about this anymore. It’s time to move on.’”
Costner elaborated on his decision, referencing his initial contract when he joined the Taylor Sheridan-created series, which has now expanded into the Yellowstone franchise.
“I gave this thing five seasons,” Costner said. “I was really happy to do it. And I don’t need drama. So, let’s just take that drama away, let’s take the guessing [away]. The fans have been incredibly supportive, and my focus now is to continue creating work that resonates with them.”
Costner is currently focused on his three-part Western epic, Horizon. The first chapter will premiere on June 28, followed by the second chapter on August 16. He is actively seeking additional funding for the third chapter.
