‘Yellowstone’ cast addresses Kevin Costner’s exit before final episode: ‘When he’s gone, things change’

This was his last journey.

“Yellowstone” star Kevin Costner left the show after the first half of the fifth and final season.

As the second half of Season 5 is set to premiere (Sunday, November 10 at 8 p.m. on Paramount), the show’s stars are considering her exit.

“He is a huge part of this show. “I feel very fortunate to be able to work with him,” Wes Bentley told The Post.

The ‘American Beauty’ actor said, ‘And I learned a lot from him as an actor. But he’s also a storyteller, a director, and he’s also a really interesting guy who knows a lot about history. We had a very good conversation. So, I’m just grateful that I got the chance to work with him.

The hit cowboy drama, which premiered in 2018 and has attracted more than 17 million viewers, follows the Dutton family, who own the largest ranch in Montana, including patriarch John (Costner) and his adult child Kayce ( Luke Grimes), Jamie (Wes Bentley). ), Beth (Kelly Reilly) and Beth’s husband, Rip (Cole Hauser).

Costner’s exit came amid a storm of behind-the-scenes drama and rumors of a feud with producer Taylor Sheridan.

In May 2023, news broke that Costner would not return to “Yellowstone” after Season 5. (This was before Paramount said that season 5 would be the show’s last.) That same month, it was announced that the show would end with season 5. , leading to speculation that the show was ending in part due to Costner’s departure.

“My last conversation with Kevin was that he had a passion project he wanted to direct,” Sheridan told The Hollywood Reporter in June, referring to Costner’s film “Horizon.”

From Sheridan’s description it seemed as if Costner preferred “Horizon” to “Yellowstone”.

Costner, however, had a different story.

In May 2024, Costner told Deadline that “Yellowstone” was “number one” on his list of priorities. “I didn’t make ‘Horizon’ because I was tired of doing ‘Yellowstone’. It’s a good story. I didn’t make ‘Horizon’ to compete with ‘Yellowstone’. This (project) is something that I had Has been for a long time,” he said.

Costner said that ongoing speculation about what was happening behind the scenes “was not true.”

The “Dances with Wolves” star said his movie “Horizon” was supposed to “fit into the gap” between filming “Yellowstone,” but, he added, “they just kept pushing their hiatus.”

Costner said, “I was straight with (Taylor Sheridan), and he said what we would do, and I believed him.” “And we didn’t get there.”

In June, Costner also addressed his fans in an Instagram video.

“Thinking about Yellowstone, that beloved series I love, I know you love it. I just realized that I wouldn’t be able to continue this in season five or in the future,” the Oscar winner said.

“I liked it and I know you liked it too. I just wanted to let you know that I will not be returning,” he shared.

Grimes told The Post about Costner’s exit, “When you lose such a big presence…it takes so much importance to the story. You know, he’s John Dutton. He is the patriarch. He’s a movie star on our sets… so, of course, when he leaves, things change,” he said.

He further added, “But art imitates life and the story will feel the same. I think that, in turn, you use that weight and make it very engaging for the story.

Ian Bohn, who plays Ryan, one of the farm workers in “Yellowstone,” told The Post, “As they say, the show must go on. You must play your part, and the rest will take care of itself.” Will be done.”

Daniel Richards, who plays Colby, another farm worker, said that between the on-set drama regarding Costner’s departure and the long wait between the first and second half of season 5, he was not even sure whether season 5 would be There will be a second part.

“For a lot of us, we probably thought 18 months ago that this would probably be the end.”

But after Costner left the show, “It’s the next guy, right?” He said.

Richards said of Costner, “He’s been a juggler for more than four decades.” “I have had the opportunity to learn a lot from him. Of course, there will be some shortcomings that you will feel. But I think (creator Taylor Sheridan) has written characters that have a lot of depth, and they’re able to fill in those gaps.

Richards acknowledged that there had been “a lot of speculation over the last year” about what was happening with Costner.

“But I mean, it’s entertainment, right? Things change a lot… At a certain point, you just have to show up and do your job, because there are a lot of people making other decisions that are outside of our scope.

Wendy Moniz, who plays John’s friend and sometimes lover Senator Lynelle Perry, told The Post about the show ending, “I’m feeling a little sad, a little bittersweet, but, so. “Looks like the time has come.”

Filming the last portion of the episode without Costner “was a little different, but mostly because we’re a tight-knit group, and it’s about telling the family story.”

John Emmett Tracy, who plays Alice Steele – one of the characters who wants to turn Dutton Ranch into an airport – said of Costner, “Obviously, he’s a Hollywood legend. And I think His involvement in the show played a huge role in making the show great. But, I would just say that people will enjoy the way the series is going in the end.”