Actor Kevin Costner announced he will not be returning “Yellowstone.” He said he loved the popular series but realized he couldn’t continue.
The director and star of “Horizon” shared his decision in an Instagram post on Thursday.
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“I just want to let you know that after a year and a half of working on ‘Horizon’ and doing all the things that need to be done and thinking about Yellowstone, that beloved series that I love – that I know you love,” Costner said. “I just realized I can’t continue season 5b or the future.”
“It was something that really changed me,” he added. “I loved it, and I know you loved it. I just wanted to let you know that I won’t be coming back. I love the relationship we’ve been able to develop, and I’ll see you in the movie.”
The Oscar winner played the role of patriarch John Dutton in “Yellowstone” and became a fan favorite. His announcement comes as the second half of Season 5 – the show’s last – returns on November 10 on Paramount Network. The series returned to production in Montana last month after being on hiatus since January 2023, Deadline reported. The show was scheduled to end in November 2023, but the writers’ strike delayed production.
Leading up to Costner’s departure, rumors swirled about whether he wanted to be part of the season ending as it conflicted with his four-part Horizon saga.
In an interview on “CBS Sunday Morning” which aired last Sunday, Costner said little about his plans for the show. When asked if he left “Yellowstone” to complete “Horizon,” Costner told correspondent Tracy Smith “no” and added, “I did everything I contracted to do with ‘Yellowstone.'”
Smith followed up with another question: “Would you like to go back?” To which Costner replied, “Yes, if I like the story, where it went, I would go back.”
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