Viewers of Yellowstone are making it clear that they won’t be tuning in for the show’s highly anticipated new season, and their reasons all point to the absence of a beloved star—Kevin Costner—who had previously expressed his intention not to return.
On June 20, the official Instagram account for Yellowstone shared a teaser video for the second half of the series’ fifth season. With its dramatic visuals and a voice-over promising “The epic return of Yellowstone,” the post seemed designed to build excitement. However, the fan reaction was not as enthusiastic as expected, with many viewers voicing their displeasure about a major change in the cast.
The teaser video featured the show’s iconic “Y” emblem engulfed in bright orange flames, accompanied by the announcement that *Yellowstone* would return this November (November 10) on Paramount Network.
“Save the date: November 10. #YellowstoneTV,” the post read. Despite the video’s energetic tone, many viewers expressed dissatisfaction about Kevin Costner’s absence from the show.
For numerous fans, the idea of continuing the series without Costner—who has played the patriarch of the Dutton family, John Dutton III, since the show’s inception—was simply unappealing. One Instagram user lamented, “Won’t be the same without Kevin Costner… I’m so sad. 😭💔”
Others were equally frustrated, with one person commenting, “What’s the point without Kevin Costner?!” Another echoed the sentiment: “There’s no point in watching this show if Kevin Costner isn’t in it. Taylor Sheridan, you really messed up this one.”
Many more fans agreed, with one saying, “Pass! No Costner—No show! Sorry!” and another adding, “Not gonna lie. It’s not the same without Kevin. 😢.”
One particularly outspoken fan criticized *Yellowstone* creator Taylor Sheridan, stating, “Dead to me. No Kevin = not watching. So what if he has a passion for doing another show? A starring actor can make that balance. But greed is king for Sheridan.”
However, not all fans shared the same view. Some were still excited for the return of *Yellowstone*—with or without Costner. One fan wrote, “Finally!!! 🙌 We’re all waiting for Beth & Rip to keep the ranch drama alive! John will be missed, but let’s be honest… Beth & Rip can carry this show for many seasons to come!” Another fan was simply enthusiastic, commenting, “I can’t wait!!!”
The day after the teaser was posted, Kevin Costner took to Instagram to officially confirm that he would not be returning to *Yellowstone*.
“Hi, everyone. I just want to reach out and let you know that after this long year and a half of working on *Horizon* and doing all the things 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 five b or into the future,” the actor wrote.
Costner went on to express his gratitude for the series, noting how much *Yellowstone* had impacted him personally. “I love the relationship we’ve been able to develop, and I’ll see you at the movies,” he concluded.
Following the Instagram post, Costner gave an interview to *USA Today* where he elaborated on his decision. At the time, he was promoting his new Western film series, *Horizon*.
“Simply with all the questions that were being asked about *Yellowstone*, the longer I thought about it, I just wanted to say that this is a stepping-off point,” Costner explained. “Whatever I’d hoped for maybe was not in the cards. I don’t want to keep saying, ‘Yeah, I hope I can do it.’ That’s drifted to a place that I don’t think is realistic anymore.”
He clarified that his decision wasn’t based on any specific issues with Taylor Sheridan or Paramount Studios, but rather his realization that it was time to move on. “I just wanted to get that done. I’m not a machine trying to figure this out. But I’m not a person that leaves people high and dry,” Costner added.
Since 2018, Costner has been a cornerstone of *Yellowstone*, playing John Dutton III, the head of the Dutton family and owner of one of the largest cattle ranches in the U.S. His portrayal has been widely acclaimed, and his absence is deeply felt by fans and cast members alike.
Luke Grimes, who plays Costner’s on-screen son, Kayce Dutton, recently opened up about the impact of Costner’s departure. In an interview with *People* magazine, Grimes reflected on the situation, saying, “Him not coming back felt like, ‘Okay, we’re going to have to land this plane now for real.’ […] It definitely felt different.”
Grimes acknowledged that the absence of the family patriarch was always part of the show’s trajectory. “I think the patriarch leaving was always going to be part of the story. That’s always where it was headed—what do these kids do? What does this family do when their rock is gone?”