Alright folks, gather ’round. Hollywood’s favorite cowboy, Kevin Costner, has just dropped a bombshell. Much like a dramatic plot twist straight out of a soap opera, the legendary Oscar winner has officially announced his departure from the hit series, Yellowstone. And boy, did he drop hints as subtly as a bull in a china shop.
Paramount Network
In case you missed his latest Instagram masterpiece, Costner shared a video where he confirmed he won’t be reprising his role as John Dutton in the second half of season 5. With the smoothness of a seasoned storyteller, he announced, “Hi everyone. I just 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.”
Talk about a plot twist no one saw coming! It’s like deciding not to finish your dessert – just unfathomable.
“It was something that really changed me. I loved it, and I know you loved it,” Costner continued, striking all the sentimental chords. “I just wanted to let you know that I won’t be returning,” he reiterated before hitting us with a classic, “I love the relationship we’ve been able to develop, and I’ll see you at the movies.” Something tells me there won’t be a dry eye in the house.
Paramount Network
Costner’s stint on the show from 2018 to 2022 introduced us to John Dutton III, a character as tough as a two-dollar steak. As the patriarch of the Dutton clan, he starred alongside a stellar cast including Luke Grimes, Kelly Reilly, and Wes Bentley. If the Yellowstone set were a rock band, Costner was definitely the lead singer.
Despite the rollercoaster of production delays, primarily due to the writers’ strike, the first half of season 5 made its debut from November 2022 to January 2023. We were initially promised a November 2023 finale, but like all great things, it got postponed. So mark your calendars for November 10, 2024, when the Dutton family graces our screens once more.
kevin costner/instagram
In an exclusive heart-to-heart interview, Costner revealed, “I liked the people on the show. I liked what it was about. I love that world.” Ranked No. 1 in PEOPLE’s annual 100 Reasons to Love America issue, it’s crystal clear Kevin Costner’s affection for Yellowstone is as genuine as grandma’s apple pie.
As the legend himself continued, “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.”
Being the trooper that he is, Costner gladly
