Everything could’ve gone much smoother.

To say that Kevin Costner ‘s exit from Yellowstone was surrounded by all kinds of rumors and drama would be an understatement. The actor, who portrayed the Dutton family patriarch and was considered the heart and soul of the show, was relentlessly questioned by fans and the media and blamed for the show’s impending demise.

Although viewers knew that the exit had to do with the scheduling conflict, both the show’s creator, Taylor Sheridan, and Costner himself have since given their perspectives. According to the actor, he never expected Yellowstone to be a long-term commitment.

Why Did Kevin Costner Leave Yellowstone?

Premiering back in 2018, the Paramount Plus neo-western series has now been running for five seasons and spawned a number of spinoffs. But that wasn’t always the plan Sheridan had for the story. According to Costner, the show was originally intended to be a one-season miniseries.

The actor mentioned this in an interview with People, giving the background of the circumstances that eventually led to his decision to leave.

“When it was first pitched to me by Taylor [Sheridan] it was one season and [like] a long movie, which [is] speaking my language… but ultimately, I think what happened was the studio didn’t want that. And because he’s such a prolific writer, he said, ‘I can do that. I can make a series that goes on,’” he shared.

 

Although it resulted in a few more years of quality television for all Yellowstone fans to enjoy, it was also the decision that ultimately led to the fallout between Sheridan and Costner. Due to the length of the production and the amount of time the actor had to wait in the dark between seasons, he grew tired and decided to pursue other opportunities.

Unfortunately, according to critics, Costner’s Horizon: An American Saga, or at least its beginning, didn’t live up to expectations, so his departure from Yellowstone seems like a sacrifice that shouldn’t have been made. However, the actor isn’t against the idea of coming back, just on his own terms.

Whether the star and the creator of Yellowstone can still mend their fences and join forces to give the show the best possible finale, we’ll have to wait and see. If you are interested in what Yellowstone has in store for its finale, be sure to tune in in November 2024.