Yellowstone, the intense neo-Western drama series, brought to life by Taylor Sheridan, made its debut in the year 2018 and became a social phenomenon. With the Dutton family and their patriarch, John Dutton, played by Kevin Costner, at its core, it wrestles with the struggle to keep the largest contiguous ranch in the United States together.
All this while staving off land developers, politicians, and others who want to destroy a way of life. Costner has been the bedrock of this show's success with his portrayal of John Dutton, commanding a presence that makes the character an iconic figure in modern television.
However, in June 2024, Costner announced that he was going to leave the series due to scheduling conflicts with his new film Horizon: An American Saga. The move is reportedly a major blow to the show as it films its fifth and final season.
Why did Kevin Costner leave Yellowstone?
Kevin Costner made the big decision to leave Yellowstone because of scheduling and production problems. Costner was eyeing more time for his pet project—Horizon: An American Saga. It is part of a series of Western films he is directing, co-writing, producing, and starring in, following five years working on the show.
The filming and production of Yellowstone just continued to get postponed. Costner finally felt that he just could not continue with the grueling schedule of the show anymore. He expressed his disgust at how no support came from the production team during the media frenzy over his departure.
Kevin Costner shared thoughts on his Yellowstone return
Kevin Costner let his fans know that he was leaving Yellowstone in an Instagram video on June 20, 2024, as reported by The Guardian. There, he showed interest in his next movie, Horizon: An American Saga.
He stated,
"I just 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, 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, season five or into the future.
In his heartfelt message, he conveyed gratitude for the relationships he built during his time on the show and assured fans that they would see him at the movies.
The feud between Kevin Costner and Taylor Sheridan in Yellowstone
The departure of Kevin Costner has been colored by reports about his rift with the actor and creator of the series, Taylor Sheridan. He publicly lamented Costner's apparent departure on the fact that this would truncate the closure of his character, John Dutton. Contrary to this, Costner has rubbished feud reports, citing that he made this show his number one priority, and he was misquoted by media concerning his involvement with the film.
Even though all this drama unfolds behind the scenes, Costner has not closed the door on the possibility of returning. Instead, he has said he would return "under the right circumstances." Producers haven't made any comments about the negotiations, leaving it to the fans to guess what might ensue in the future for the show without its main leading man.
Kevin Costner is working on Horizon: An American Saga
Kevin Costner's departure from the award-winning drama series, Yellowstone, was tied to his starring role in the feature film, Horizon: An American Saga, which he had been developing since 2021.
This sweeping epic—which made its debut at the 2024 Cannes Film Festival—chronicles the exploration and settling of the American West, showing the ongoing conflicts between settlers and Indigenous Peoples during one of the most chaotic times in the history of the United States.
For Costner, who is directing, co-writing, producing, and starring in the project, much of his fortune is on the line. He ponied up $38 million of his own money the first time around to augment the $100 million budget.
The cast of Yellowstone Season 5B
Even though Kevin Costner will no longer be attached to it, the remainder of the final episodes will play out in Season 5B.
The show's cast includes:
- Luke Grimes as Kayce Dutton
- Kelly Reilly as Beth Dutton
- Wes Bentley as Jamie Dutton
- Cole Hauser as Rip Wheeler
- Kelsey Asbille as Monica Dutton
- Brecken Merrill as Tate Dutton
- Jefferson White as Jimmy Hurdstrom
- Forrie J. Smith as Lloyd Pierce
- Denim Richards as Colby Mayfield
- Ian Bohen as Ryan
- Finn Little as Carter
- Ryan Bingham as Walker
- Gil Birmingham as Thomas Rainwater
- Jen Landon as Teeter
- Kathryn Kelly as Emily
Where to watch Yellowstone Season 5B?
The second half of the fifth season is set to premiere on November 10, 2024. Domestic audiences can expect the final six episodes to air via the Paramount Network.
Internationally, streaming will be done across a variety of different streaming services. This includes Paramount+ and Peacock, depending on your country of residence.
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As Yellowstone gears up to ride into the sunset without Kevin Costner, the question on everyone's mind is how the series will move forward and remain true to John Dutton's memory.
Stay tuned to Soap Central to know more about Yellowstone's upcoming season.
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