LOS ANGELES, CALIFORNIA – MAY 30: Kevin Costner attends the premiere party for Paramount Network’s … [+]
When Yellowstone returns to television screens on Nov. 12, fans will notice the absence of Kevin Costner, the lead star of Taylor Sheridan’s popular neo-Western drama. As a central figure in the series, viewers be curious about what happened to Costner and why he’s not in the show’s final episodes.
Since Yellowstone‘s debut in 2018, Kevin Costner has portrayed John Dutton III, the patriarch of the Dutton family and owner of one of the largest cattle ranches in the U.S. The show follows Dutton and his family as they defend their land against a variety of threats, including land developers, a nearby Indian reservation, political rivals, and other adversaries.
Over the show’s five seasons on the Paramount Network, fans have seen Costner’s character become the Governor of Montana, experience serious health issues, navigate difficult family dynamics (especially with Beth and Jamie), and wage war against anyone threatening his ranch and his cowboys. Naturally, Costner and his character’s absence will be deeply felt by the cast.
Luke Grimes, who plays Costner’s on-screen son Kayce Dutton, recently opened up to People about what it was like not having Costner back on set to finish the series.
“Him not coming back felt like, ‘Okay, we’re going to have to land this plane now for real,’” Grimes said. “I think the patriarch leaving was always going to be part of the story. That’s always where it was headed is like, what do these kids do? What does this family do when their rock is gone?”
Although Grimes acknowledges the “drama” that led to Yellowstone‘s return to filming, the actor admitted that he felt as though “it was always going to go that way.” He continued, “Whatever the circumstances may be, [it] definitely felt like, ‘Okay, we’re coming in for a landing,'” he said of Costner’s exit. “It definitely felt different.”
Will Kevin Costner Be In Yellowstone Season 5, Part 2?
Kevin Costner on Yellowstone.
No, Kevin Costner will not appear in Yellowstone Season 5, Part 2. In June 2024, Costner confirmed that he would not participate in the second half of Season 5, which also serves as the series’ final episodes. He shared the news in an informal video posted to his Instagram on June 20, 2024.
“I 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, and 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 5B or into the future,” he said.
The Horizon director and star continued, “It was something that really changed me. I loved it. And I know you loved it. And I just wanted to let you know that I won’t be returning and I love the relationship we’ve been able to develop and I’ll see you at the movies.”
Although Costner was not involved with filming, Christina Voros, the director of the first six episodes, told The Hollywood Reporter that John Dutton remains central to the family in the remaining episodes.
“To say any more than that would potentially compromise all the work that went into redacting the scripts,” she explained. “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.”
Why Is Kevin Costner No Longer On Yellowstone?
Kevin Costner, Kelly Reilly and Wes Bentley on Yellowstone.
After releasing the video announcing his exit, Costner spoke with USA Today and said he was tired of holding out hope for returning to Yellowstone. He spoke openly about his desire to return to the neo-Western drama to multiple news outlets this year.
“Simply with all the questions that were being asked (about ‘Yellowstone’), the longer I thought about that … I just wanted to say that this is a stepping-off point,” Costner told the site. “Whatever I’d hoped for maybe was not in the cards. I don’t want to keep saying, ‘Yeah, I hope I can do it.’ That’s drifted to a place that I don’t think is realistic anymore.”
Many were surprised to learn that the 69-year-old actor wanted to return for the final part of Yellowstone, despite the rumored rift between Costner, Sheridan, and the Paramount Network. The conflict reportedly began in 2023, with claims that Costner refused to film on set for more than one week for Season 5B—a claim Costner’s attorney, Marty Singer, denied.
“The idea that Kevin was only willing to work one week on the second half of Season 5 of Yellowstone is an absolute lie,” Singer told Puck.News. “It’s ridiculous — and anyone suggesting it shouldn’t be believed for one second.”
Costner also denied the claims, explaining to TODAY.com in May 2024 that he honored the “truth of the contract” and stated he never shot Season 5B because there was no script, adding that the public has been “reading one version [of this behind-the-scenes drama] for a year and a half.”
Last year, Sheridan opened up about the alleged drama, telling The Hollywood Reporter in June 2023 that his last conversation with Costner was about a “passion project” Costner wanted to direct, and that the actor and the network “were arguing about when he could be done with Yellowstone.”
Yellowstone Season 5, Part 2, will be premiering on Sunday, Nov. 10, at 8 p.m. ET on Paramount Network and 10 p.m. ET on CBS. New episodes will air weekly. Watch the official teaser below.
