Kevin Costner recently reflected on Yellowstone in an interview with Entertainment Tonight, declaring that the show’s central figures “should all be in prison” for their on‐screen transgressions.
He made this remark while promoting his History Channel docuseries The West, praising Yellowstone’s depiction of “modern‐day ranching” before branding its narrative a “bit of a soap opera”. In a separate conversation with the Daily Mail, Costner admitted he “didn’t give [the finale] any thoughts” and preferred to “let it go”.
Cole Hauser, who portrays Rip Wheeler, responded by asserting that Rip’s choices align with what John Dutton would have endorsed, highlighting the show’s moral ambiguity. Meanwhile, Costner shared feelings of having been unfairly blamed for his Yellowstone exit, noting he learned of his character’s off‐screen demise only after the episode aired and still defended the creative team.
Yellowstone co‐creator Taylor Sheridan has weighed in on their split in past interviews, stating his admiration for Costner’s work remained unchanged despite legal entanglements and expressing disappointment that the actor’s departure “truncates the closure of his character”.
Costner’s exit from Yellowstone followed scheduling conflicts tied to his passion project Horizon: An American Saga, a four‐part western epic whose first installment underperformed at the box office and prompted a shift toward streaming release for its sequel.
Having bowed out midway through season five, Costner has signaled hope for completing chapters three and four of Horizon while Yellowstone wrapped its run in December 2024 after five seasons.
Paramount has since greenlit multiple spin‐offs to carry the Yellowstone universe forward, including a series centered on Beth Dutton (Kelly Reilly) and Rip Wheeler (Hauser) that is slated to begin filming soon. As Yellowstone’s legacy endures, Costner’s candid assessment has reignited debate over the show’s blend of frontier mythology and vigilante justice.