Kevin Costner confirms his fate in Yellowstone after surprise exit

It’s official: Kevin Costner will no To return to Dutton Ranch.

After more than a year of speculation that the actor had stepped away from his hit series Yellowstone to focus on other professional projects, Costner has finally confirmed that he will not be returning as John Dutton III in the second part of the Paramount series’ fifth and final season. .

“I just wanted to reach out and let you know, after a year and a half of work HorizonAnd doing all the things that are required, and thinking about… Yellowstone— that beloved series that I love, and that I know you love — I just realized that I wouldn’t be able to continue Season 5B, or into the future.

However, the Oscar winner admitted he is forever grateful for his once-in-a-lifetime role as the patriarch of a fictional Montana ranching family.

“It was something that really changed me,” added Costner, who starred in the drama for four and a half seasons from 2018 to 2022. “I loved it, and I know you loved it. I just wanted to tell you I’m not coming back.”