Kevin Costner Still Has Strong Feelings About ‘Yellowstone’ After Leaving

The big picture

• Kevin Costner loved his time
  Yellowstone
  but the lack of new material motivated his departure after five seasons.
• Despite initial plans for one season, Costner accepted the challenge of extending the series to three seasons and eventually five.
• Costner remains open to returning to finish the mythology of the modern ranching family if the right conditions are met.

During the press tour of his next project, Horizon: An American Saga, Kevin Costner has spoken openly about his time Yellowstone and hinted at the possibility of his return, even suggesting that he would return only to be killed. However, for now, there is no news about Costner and the creator of the series Taylor Sheridan patching up their differences before the end of the series. Production of Yellowstone The second half of season 5 is underway without Costner's character, John Dutton. Meanwhile, the Yellowstone derivative series, titled 2024, is in development and will feature several key cast members from the original drama series. But speaking with PEOPLE, Costner opened up about the speculation about his departure, and he's not happy with the talk.

The Costner experience Yellowstone it was one he loved deeply. “I loved the show,” he said. Portraying patriarch John Dutton III for five seasons, Costner's involvement was driven by a deep affection for the narrative and its ensemble, which made the controversies surrounding his departure particularly painful.

despite Yellowstone initially pitched to him as a one-season project akin to a feature-length film, Costner accepted the challenge of extending the series.

“When Taylor first introduced me, it was a season and [like] a long film, which [is] speaking my language… but in the end, I think what happened was that 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 continues.”

Costner gladly “stepped up” and committed to three seasons, eventually delivering five, but the lack of progress on new scripts was too much of a burden. Despite reports linking his departure with Horizon: An American SagaCostner clarified that his departure was mainly due to the lack of new material for Yellowstone. “There was a time when this show for me stopped for 14 months,” he added.

As is his way, Costner remained silent amid the rumors, though he was “disappointed” that no one was standing up for him. “I read all the stories. I was disappointed that no one on their side … ever stepped up to defend what I actually did for them. There came a point where I thought, 'Wow, when is someone going to say something? about what I've done versus what I haven't done?”

Kevin Costner still wants to finish his “Yellowstone” story.

Costner's initial attraction to the project was his admiration for the writing and the vision behind it. Yellowstone, and this recognition fueled his dedication and willingness to return if the right conditions met.

“I loved the writing and I really, really loved what Taylor was doing. He understood the world of modern ranching and was able to create all this other kind of drama within it, but in an effective way. He always did I hear. … It might be an interesting time to go back and finish the mythology of this modern family.”

Stay tuned to Collider for more updates Yellowstone, Horizon: An American Sagaand other projects with Kevin Costner.