Kevin Costner’s time as John Dutton on the popular television series ‘Yellowstone’ has officially come to an end. After months of speculation and negotiations, the actor confirmed on Thursday night that he would not be returning for the second half of season 5.
Costner shared the news in a video message on X (formerly Twitter), stating that his commitment to his other project, ‘Horizon: An American Saga,’ ultimately prevented him from continuing with ‘Yellowstone.’ He expressed his love for the series and the relationship he developed with fans but acknowledged that he could not make both projects work.
“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,” Costner said. “I just realized that I’m not going to be able to continue Season 5B or into the future. 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.”
Earlier on Thursday, Paramount Network announced that ‘Yellowstone’ season 5 part 2 would return on Sunday, November 10, 2024. The announcement did not mention Costner, fueling speculation about his absence from the final episodes.
Costner’s departure from the show was initially announced in May 2023 after the conclusion of the fifth season. Reports later surfaced that his commitment to ‘Horizon: An American Saga’ was the reason for his absence in the second half of season 5. Despite these reports, Costner had expressed hope for a return to ‘Yellowstone’ under the right circumstances in recent weeks.
Now, with his departure confirmed, Costner is turning his attention to promoting and finishing ‘Horizon: An American Saga’. The first chapter of the series will hit theaters on June 28, with the second chapter following on August 16. Filming for the third chapter has already begun, and if all goes well, Costner will complete the saga with a fourth film.
Fans of ‘Yellowstone’ are left wondering about the fate of John Dutton and how the series will conclude without its main character. The future of the show remains uncertain, but one thing is certain – Kevin Costner’s era on ‘Yellowstone’ has come to a close.
