As ranch patriarch John Dutton, Kevin Costner played an integral role in Yellowstone — so, why did the star leave the series for good? (Warning: spoilers ahead!)
Well, well, well. After years of ranch warfare and illegal antics, John Dutton is no more. The cattle tycoon was found dead on the bathroom floor in Yellowstone Season 5 Part 2, which should be a surprise to no-one since Kevin Costner’s parting of ways was well-publicized.
Taylor Sheridan’s neo-Western juggernaut has been plagued by rumors and speculations, a majority of which involve Costner. An alleged feud between Costner and Sheridan supposedly out, and various troubles meant that Costner announced his exit before Part 2 even began filming.
Now Yellowstone Season 5 Part 2 has given us an end to his character, and many want to know exactly why Costner left it all behind. Here’s the scoop.
Why did Kevin Costner leave Yellowstone?
Multiple causes have been cited for Kevin Costner leaving Yellowstone, but there’s one main reason that likely plays a key part in all of this: he was wrapped up in the production of his four-movie Western epic, Horizon: An American Saga.
Horizon: An American Saga has been a passion project for Costner for three decades, and at long last, he was able to get the first of four chapters made and released in 2024.
But with Yellowstone Season 5 being split into two halves, production was stretched out and led to a clash for Costner. When it came down to it, Costner chose Horizon over Yellowstone.
Costner himself confirmed in June 2024 that he wouldn’t be coming back to the show, sharing his statement in a video posted to X.
An update for you guys. I’ll see you at the movies. pic.twitter.com/DpuC5cOP6F
— Kevin Costner & MW (@modernwest) June 21, 2024
“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 5 or into the future,” he said. “I loved it and I know you loved it, and I just wanted to let you know that I won’t be returning.”
During all this, rumors of a feud quickly took over. Insiders of the Paramount show told the New York Post back in April that there’s an issue of “ego” between the two, and it’s not necessarily one-sided. “Taylor is the star of his show,” they explained. “He’s the most important person on all of his shows.”
These rumors have been accelerated by various no-show events, including PaleyFest. Sheridan, Costner, and co were set to attend the TV festival, but left fans disappointed by a last-minute cancellation.
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Many of the claims have cited scheduling disagreements with Costner, who is busy with Horizon: An American Saga, with some suggesting the actor was only willing to shoot scenes for one week.
However, Costner’s attorney Marty Singer previously denied the rumors, telling Puck News: “The idea that Kevin was only willing to work one week on the second half of Season 5 of Yellowstone is an absolute lie.”
Either way, as the co-writer, producer, director, and star of his Horizon projects, there’s no denying Costner has a lot on his plate right now. Chapter 2 is complete (with the release date still TBC after being pulled from its August 2024 release date), with production on Chapters 3 and 4 still going on.
In short, it seems like The Bodyguard star just didn’t have the time to focus on Yellowstone in recent years, having appeared as the lead since its debut season in 2018.
Sources suggested to Variety earlier this year that “the issue seems to be Costner’s shooting schedule, with Costner being available for fewer days as the show has progressed.”
Salary and creative disagreements
Kevin Costner also stated that failed negotiations over pay were one of the reasons for leaving Yellowstone, as well as some disagreements on the creative direction of the show.
Costner said [via People Magazine]: “I couldn’t help them any more. We tried to negotiate, they offered me less money than previous seasons, there were issues with the creative…”
According to Costner, his team offered a sum to Paramount, who refused to pay the requested amount. As such, the actor has stated that he “will probably go to court over it.”
Though the flagship series is drawing to a close, the Yellowstone world will live on through its spinoffs, including 1923 Season 2, 6666, The Madison, and 1944.
For all the latest on Yellowstone, be sure to check out the shows to watch if you love Yellowstone, other Taylor Sheridan shows & movies, and learn more about the Yellowstone cast.