Taylor Sheridan’s “Yellowstone” was a major hit during its run, dominating cable network ratings. A significant factor behind its success (at least initially) was casting Kevin Costner as John Dutton, the family patriarch the series centers on. Bringing in a star of Costner’s caliber positioned the show for triumph, but it also came with great expectations for him. In June 2019, shortly after the second season debuted, Costner discussed his apprehensions in an interview on “Good Morning America”.

Costner noted that initially, “Yellowstone” was intended as a 10-episode miniseries. However, as the project evolved, it was clear the series had potential for multiple seasons, which was daunting for him. As Costner put it, “Suddenly, it was going to be a multi-season. And I thought, actually, if I would have said, ‘Well, now I’m not doing it,’ that maybe it might have crumbled before it got started. And I kind of took the weight on emotionally of not wanting to have the show crumble.”

Co-star Denim Richards, who portrayed Colby Mayfield, echoed these sentiments. Speaking with the New York Post, he recounted Costner’s remarks at the initial table read. Richards remembered Costner expressing to the cast: “I don’t know about you guys, but I’m scared as hell. So why don’t we come together the best we can, and make this happen, and support each other.” This camaraderie persisted until the final season when Costner did what he initially hesitated to do—he departed.

Committing to a TV series for five seasons is substantial. “Yellowstone” faced the challenge of splitting its fifth and final season into two segments. Although Costner returned as John Dutton for the first segment of eight episodes, he opted out of the final six. Costner’s departure from “Yellowstone” stemmed from his ambition to create his own Western project, which he couldn’t juggle alongside the show.

The filming of “Yellowstone” Season 5, Part 2 reportedly clashed with Costner’s movie “Horizon: An American Saga.” This film was planned as a sweeping epic told in multiple parts, with the first two installments scheduled for release in 2024, just weeks apart. However, after “Part 1” performed poorly at the box office, “Part 2” faced an indefinite delay. Meanwhile, “Yellowstone” moved forward without John Dutton. The season began with John’s death, and the remainder focused on his family unraveling the mystery and coping with the aftermath.

Despite the situation, eliminating the central character was a bold decision. Many fans were displeased with John’s demise on “Yellowstone,” feeling that Taylor Sheridan had ample time to devise an alternative since Costner’s departure was foretold. Although “Yellowstone” has ended, its world endures. Several spinoffs have emerged, with another on the way: “The Madison,” featuring Michelle Pfeiffer and Kurt Russell, set in contemporary times.