Oscar-winner Kevin Costner has finally opened up about his decision to leave his iconic role as John Dutton in Yellowstone, revealing the real story behind his exit in an interview with Rich Eisen.

As he promotes his new western epic, Horizon: An American Saga, Costner sheds light on the creative and professional crossroads that led to one of television’s most talked-about departures.

Costner begins by expressing his deep affection for Yellowstone and the journey it took him on. When the project first came to him, it wasn’t on anyone’s radar.

He saw the potential in Taylor Sheridan’s writing and believed in the story so much that he personally helped sell the show overseas, investing himself in the series from the very beginning. What started as a single season quickly grew into five, with Costner’s commitment helping to transform Yellowstone into a cultural phenomenon.

However, as the show’s popularity soared, Costner found himself facing a dilemma. He wanted to do more than one project a year, but Yellowstone’s unpredictable production schedule made it difficult to plan other work.

Costner explains that he always kept Yellowstone as his top priority, but the lack of a firm, reliable filming timeline became unsustainable. “I needed it to stay on course and have an exact amount of time so I could do other things,” he says. With hundreds of cast and crew depending on him for his new project, Horizon, he couldn’t afford to let scheduling conflicts disrupt the promises he’d made to his team.

Ultimately, Costner’s decision to step away was driven by a need for clarity and commitment—not just for himself, but for everyone involved in his projects. “I just wanted to do more than one thing a year,” he says. “Five years later, I realized I just have to stop to make sure that can happen.”

He adds that he released a video on social media to clear up rumors and be honest with fans: “There didn’t seem to be anything really in motion, so let’s take away the mystery. This is not going to happen.”

Costner confirms he will not appear at all in the upcoming season of Yellowstone and has no idea what the fate of John Dutton will be, as he’s no longer involved in the creative process.

Instead, his focus is now entirely on Horizon: An American Saga, an ambitious multi-part western film series that he is writing, directing, and starring in. The first chapter of Horizon is set to premiere this Friday, with the second installment arriving later this summer, and production on the third already underway.

Reflecting on his career and legacy, Costner says he feels a responsibility to see his vision through: “I’ve made a promise to myself that I’m going to make these [films] for an audience, and when I’m done, I’ll feel like that was what I was supposed to do. Good or bad, they live forever.”

Costner’s candid interview puts to rest months of speculation about creative conflicts or personal drama behind the scenes. His departure from Yellowstone was ultimately about honoring commitments and pursuing new creative horizons. For fans, it’s the end of an era—but also the beginning of a new chapter in Costner’s legendary career. As Yellowstone moves forward without its patriarch, Costner’s next saga is already taking shape on the big screen, promising audiences a sweeping new vision of the American West.