Kevin Costner Says He Finally Confirmed His ‘Yellowstone’ Exit Because “I Don’t Need Drama”

Kevin Costner is revealing why now was the right time to confirm his Yellowstone departure.

While promoting the forthcoming first movie in his Western film series Horizon: An American Saga, the actor and director explained why he finally made the official announcement last Thursday that he would not be returning as Yellowstone patriarch John Dutton when the hit Paramount Network series returns for its final episodes on Nov. 10.

Costner’s news came just hours after Paramount Network had announced the premiere date and as the star’s return was looking less and less likely, as filming on the final episodes was already underway.

“It wasn’t tough,” Costner told The Hollywood Reporter when asked how difficult it was to make the long-speculated news official on June 20. “It was a necessary decision to say, ‘Hey, okay I don’t want to really talk about this anymore. It’s time to move on.’”

Costner then elaborated, echoing comments he has previously made about his deal when he first signed onto the Taylor Sheridan-created flagship series, which has since spawned a Yellowstone-verse.

“I gave this thing five seasons,” Costner said. “I was really happy to do it. And I don’t need drama. So, let’s just take that drama away, let’s take the guessing [away]. The fans have been way too good to me. And my obligation is to go on and continue to make things that mean something to them.”

The star continued to share his appreciation for his fans as he takes on his next venture, his big-budget and independently financed three-part Western epic. Horizon: Chapter 2 arrives in theaters Aug. 16, less than two months after Chapter 1 releases on June 28, and Costner has two more films planned. He’s started filming on Chapter 3, but needs more funds to complete his vision.

“I owe the fans the best movie I can make,” he told THR. “If I give up movies and don’t want to make anymore, that’s my business. But if I choose to make movies, I have the fans right on my shoulder. And not to cater to them, but to kind of take them in a direction maybe they didn’t even think something could possibly go so. I make [movies] for people. It’s not my movie anymore, it’s the fans’ that have supported me. It’s for them.”

When asked why he thinks Yellowstone fans will like Horizon, the Oscar-winning filmmaker said, “Well, I’m not saying they are [going to like it], but I’m saying I think if I like it, I think they will like it.”

In his video, posted across his social media accounts, Costner had announced his departure by saying, “After this long year and a half of working on Horizon and doing all the things that that’s required and thinking about Yellowstone, that beloved series that I love that I know you love, I just realized that I’m not going to be able to continue season 5B or into the future. It was something that really changed me. I loved it and I know you loved it. And I just wanted to let you know that I won’t be returning.”