Yellowstone Creator Addresses Kevin Costner Exit, Rumored Feud

It was simply time for Kevin Costner to leave the ranch. 

Two years after he exited Yellowstone, prompting the end of the series in its fifth season, the show’s creator Taylor Sheridan subtly shut down feud rumors by addressing Costner’s seemingly abrupt exit. 

“Kevin was only supposed to be in the first three seasons,” Sheridan clarified during a June 28 appearance on The Bill Simmons podcast. “That was in his contract. In my mind, that’s when his youngest son takes over and we have to watch them lose their ranch or not lose their ranch or whatever the case was going to be.”

Indeed, fans of Yellowstone will know that Costner’s John Dutton doesn’t give up the ranch until his death in the show’s fifth season—at which point John’s son Kayce (Luke Grimes) finally takes over and ends up selling it. 

However, that arc was supposed to occur much sooner. 

“The network was so scared of not having Kevin be a part of it,” Sheridan continued. “Even though Kevin was ready to go. He had other things he wanted to do. But he stayed on for another two seasons.”