After prolonged back-and-forth discussions, he announced his departure from the series in June 2024 as he remains active with a special project he’s been developing for some time.

“Yellowstone,” the hit Western series, stars Kevin Costner in the unforgettable role of John Dutton, a rugged rancher fighting to protect his family’s land in Montana against relentless outside threats. Since its explosive 2018 premiere, Costner has anchored the show across 53 episodes. But in a surprising turn, he chose to exit after the first half of season 5 (5A), its final season, for various reasons

Ahead of “Yellowstone’s” season 5B return on November 10, 2024, Costner was asked how he described his character’s presence, given his limited appearance in the trailer. He replied, “His presence is integral. I think to say any more than that would potentially compromise all the work that went into redacting the scripts!”

Laughing, he added, “But I think the reason people are wondering, ‘Is he, isn’t he? Where is he, where is he not?’ is because he is the patriarch, and his presence is an essential component to the story. John Dutton is still central.”