Kevin Costner Breaks Silence on ‘Yellowstone’ Exit Rumors

John Dutton (Kevin Costner), in "Yellowstone." Paramount

Veteran actor Kevin Costner, who plays Montana rancher and family patriarch John Dutton III in Paramount Network’s hit neo-Western drama series “Yellowstone,” has finally addressed his rumored split from the Taylor Sheridan-led show.

Speaking with Entertainment Tonight backstage at CinemaCon—held April 8-11 at Caesars Palace in Las Vegas, Nevada—about his new project, “Horizon: An American Saga,” the 69-year-old said he would “love” to reprise his role in “Yellowstone” for season five’s second installment.

After the mid-season finale aired in January 2023, production on part two was delayed to the late spring of 2024, largely the result of scheduling conflicts caused by the WGA and SAG-AFTRA strikes last year, per Variety. Part two is now expected to premiere in November, marking the show’s final season, the publication reported.

When asked if he would appear in the upcoming episodes, Mr. Costner said, “I'd like to be able to do it, but we haven’t been able to.”

“I thought I was going to make seven [seasons] but right now we’re at five. So how it works out—I hope it does—but they’ve got a lot of different shows going on,” he continued. “Maybe it will. Maybe this will circle back to me. If it does and I feel really comfortable with [it], I'd love to do it.”

Mr. Costner noted that he had suggestions for what might become of his character in the final episodes but said the storyline was ultimately up to the show’s creator.

“Well, you know, he needs to be proactive in what happens and I’ve kind of had my own fantasy how it might be,” Mr. Costner explained, “but that’s Taylor’s thing. I said as much to him a while back. I had thoughts how it could happen, but we just have to see.”

In addition to the flagship series, “Yellowstone” spin-offs include prequels “1883” and “1923,” released in 2021 and 2022, respectively, which chronicle John Dutton’s ancestors.

The former series features the Dutton brood from the post-Civil War generation, starring country singer Tim McGraw and his wife, Faith Hill, among others, while the latter series follows the Dutton family in the early 20th century, led by Harrison Ford opposite Helen Mirren.

Another prequel, “1944,” and a sequel, entitled “2024,” are also reportedly in the works.

John Dutton (Kevin Costner) a little banged up in “Yellowstone Season 1.” Paramount Media Networks

“On the heels of 1883 and 1923’s success, our new planned spinoffs, 1944 and 2024, will take audiences on a thrilling, new and unexpected journey with the complex and compelling storytelling that has become a hallmark of the franchise and has helped turn it into a worldwide cultural phenomenon – thanks to the creative mastermind of Taylor Sheridan,” Chris McCarthy, the president and chief executive officer of MTV Entertainment Group, said, per Men’s Health.

‘Horizon: An American Saga’

Whether or not Mr. Costner appears in the final episodes of “Yellowstone” remains to be seen. In the meantime, however, Western drama fans can see the Academy Award-winning actor in his forthcoming epic, “Horizon: An American Saga”—a passion project 35 years in the making that Mr. Costner acted in, directed, and produced.

The saga explores “the Civil War expansion and settlement of the American West,” according to a press release. In addition to Mr. Costner, the epic’s ensemble cast includes Sienna Miller (“American Woman”), Sam Worthington (“Avatar”), Jena Malone (“Donnie Darko”), Giovanni Ribisi (“Boiler Room”), Owen Crow Shoe (“The Revenant”), and Tatanka Means (“Killers of the Flower Moon”), among others.

Mr. Costner’s son, Hayes, 15, whom the actor shares with his ex-wife, Christine Baumgartner, will also star in the film, marking his first-ever on-screen role. The estranged former couple also share son Cayden, 16, and daughter, Grace, 13. Mr. Costner is also the father of four other children from previous relationships, per People.

“I captured him and I brought him on, and he’s very good in this small part that he’s done,” Mr. Costner told Entertainment Tonight about his son’s acting role.

“If you see it, I think he has an impact on the movie,” he said, sharing that his son’s name holds special meaning in the film, which Mr. Costner first conceived nearly four decades ago.

“I named him after the character I play in this. My character’s name is Hayes Ellison,” the actor shared. “And I named Hayes that character. So I was watching him grow up and I was thinking, ‘Man, I better get with it and make this movie.’”

Originally slated to run in four installments, the first chapter of “Horizon: An American Saga” will debut on June 28, followed by the second chapter on Aug. 16.