Kevin Costner Criticizes Yellowstone Ending, Leaves Door Open for Return

Kevin Costner, who played John Dutton on the hit series Yellowstone, has expressed mixed feelings about his character's abrupt off-screen death and his exit from the show, which was reportedly influenced by contract disputes and scheduling conflicts with his film project Horizon. Despite his character being killed off in season 5, Costner has not ruled out a potential return to the Yellowstone universe, stating he would consider it if the mythology and execution felt right. He described the show as a modern-day ranching soap opera where the characters' criminal actions would realistically land them in prison, reflecting on the dramatic nature of the series. Costner was reportedly caught off guard by the airing of the finale and had not been closely following the show's concluding episodes. Meanwhile, the Yellowstone franchise continues to expand, with Luke Grimes reprising his role as Kayce Dutton in a new sequel series focused on U.S. Marshals, signaling the continuation of the show's universe despite Costner's departure. Costner remains focused on his Western film series but retains an affectionate view of Yellowstone and its impact.