Kevin Costner Reflects on Yellowstone: A Different Ending Was Needed
Months after helping make Yellowstone a cultural phenomenon, Kevin Costner is reflecting on the fate of the Dutton family and his time on the series.
Although his character, John Dutton, met an unceremonious end in the show’s final season, Costner hasn’t left the Western genre behind. While promoting his new History Channel docuseries The West, the actor shared his thoughts on American Western storytelling — including his experience portraying the rugged Dutton ranch owner in Taylor Sheridan’s hit series.
“Yellowstone captured modern-day ranching so beautifully,” Costner said in a recent interview. “I mean, it’s a bit of a soap opera,” he added with a laugh, seemingly referencing the Duttons’ violent tendencies with, “We should all be in prison.”
Costner famously exited the series before its final season wrapped, reportedly due to scheduling conflicts with his ambitious film project, Horizon: An American Saga. The first installment of the planned four-part saga hit theaters in June 2024, originally intended to be followed by a second film in August. However, after the first film’s underwhelming box office performance, the sequel was pulled from the release calendar.
Despite the setback, Costner remains committed to the project. His production company, Territory Pictures, and distributor New Line Cinema said the delay was intended to help grow the film’s audience through streaming and on-demand platforms ahead of the next release. As of now, there’s no confirmed date for when the second chapter will premiere.
Still, Costner remains optimistic: “Chapter Two is done, and I hope to make Chapters Three and Four,” he shared.
