“I gave this thing 5 seasons”: Kevin Costner Reveals Biggest Reason For Announcing His Yellowstone Exit Ahead of Horizon: An American Saga’s Release

‘Yellowstone’ just won’t be the same without Kevin Costner’s John Dutton III

The first part of the final season of Taylor Sheridan’s Yellowstone was released back in 2022 and fans are patiently waiting for the second part to be released in November of this year. Unfortunately, the heart of the neo-Western drama Kevin Costner will not be returning to play the patriarch of the Dutton family in the second half.

Taking to his social media, Kevin Costner uploaded a heartfelt and personal message for his fans who have been loving him throughout the series. He stated that the realization came to him while working on his new film series, Horizon: An American Saga.

Kevin Costner Opens Up about Yellowstone Exit

On June 21, Kevin Costner posted a video across his social media accounts talking about his final exit from Taylor Sheridan’s Yellowstone. Captioning the video, “I’ll see you at the movies,” he stated that after working for a year and a half on Horizon: The American Saga and thinking about Yellowstone simultaneously, he realized that he wouldn’t be able to continue with the show.

However, he did add that the series changed him and that he loved being a part of it.

later, Costner opened up about his exit to The Hollywood Reporter while promoting the first film in his upcoming movie series. When asked if quitting Yellowstone was a “tough” decision to make, the actor stated,

It wasn’t tough. 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.’

While Yellowstone has evolved into a franchise with multiple spin-offs and some still on the way, Costner revealed that his deal with Sheridan was only for five seasons.

Before drama could begin floating around with fans and media speculating the “real” reason behind his exit, Costner cleared the air stating,

I gave this thing five seasons. 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 way too good to me. And my obligation is to go on and continue to make things that mean something to them.

While the show will continue without Costner, it’s going to be really weird for the fans to watch it without their favorite John Dutton III.

Fans React to Kevin Costner’s Exit

Of course, it wasn’t easy for fans to accept the fact that Costner is no longer a part of Yellowstone. However, they found comfort in the fact that the actor took time out to make a video for them and explain his departure.

Many even stated that the show wouldn’t be the same without him as he was the heart and soul of Yellowstone and we cannot disagree.

For those who love watching Costner’s charisma on screen, worry not. The actor promises to continue making the best movies he can that will certainly blow the fans’ minds. He told THR,

I owe the fans the best movie I can make. If I give up movies and don’t want to make anymore, that’s my business. But if I choose to make movies, I have the fans right on my shoulder. And not to cater to them, but to kind of take them in a direction maybe they didn’t even think something could possibly go so. I make [movies] for people. It’s not my movie anymore, it’s the fans’ that have supported me. It’s for them.

Well, as Costner himself said, we’ll see him at the movies!

Stream Yellowstone on Peacock Premium and Horizon: The American Saga – Chapter 1 will be released in theatres on June 28, 2024.