After prolonged back-and-forth discussions, he announced his departure from the series in June 2024 as he remains active with a special project he’s been developing for some time.
“Yellowstone,” the hit Western series, stars Kevin Costner in the unforgettable role of John Dutton, a rugged rancher fighting to protect his family’s land in Montana against relentless outside threats. Since its explosive 2018 premiere, Costner has anchored the show across 53 episodes. But in a surprising turn, he chose to exit after the first half of its 5th and final season (5A), for various reasons.
Kevin Costner as John Dutton on “Yellowstone” in a post dated May 9, 2024 | Source: Instagram/yellowstone
Ahead of “Yellowstone’s” season 5B return on November 10, 2024, Costner was asked how he described his character’s presence, given his limited appearance in the trailer. He replied, “His presence is integral. I think to say any more than that would potentially compromise all the work that went into redacting the scripts!”
Laughing, he added, “But I think the reason people are wondering, ‘Is he, isn’t he? Where is he, where is he not?’ is because he is the patriarch, and his presence is an essential component to the story. John Dutton is still central.”
While the show’s co-creator and writer, Taylor Sheridan, typically keeps scripts under wraps, some speculated that heightened secrecy might be due to several factors. Director Christina Voros was asked if this was because of Costner’s exit, the final season billing of 5B, or the show’s heightened popularity raising expectations.
Voros confirmed that all these factors played a role and noted that with such a beloved show, fans developed ideas about its ending. According to her, Sheridan crafted a beautiful, surprising, riveting, and unexpected conclusion.
While the show’s co-creator and writer, Taylor Sheridan, typically keeps scripts under wraps, some speculated that heightened secrecy might be due to several factors. Director Christina Voros was asked if this was because of Costner’s exit, the final season billing of 5B, or the show’s heightened popularity raising expectations.
Voros confirmed that all these factors played a role and noted that with such a beloved show, fans developed ideas about its ending. According to her, Sheridan crafted a beautiful, surprising, riveting, and unexpected conclusion.