Overview
- Taylor Sheridan said Thursday that Kevin Costner’s contract originally limited him to the first three seasons of Yellowstone.
- Sheridan told the Bill Simmons Podcast the network resisted losing Costner after the show became a massive hit, and that pressure kept the actor on for parts of five seasons.
- Costner has said production delays, periods with no script and a 14-month gap in work led him to start his own multi‑part film project Horizon to protect his schedule.
- Costner formally announced his departure in June 2024, the series wound down later that year, and the Yellowstone universe has continued through prequels and present‑day spin-offs.
- Sheridan’s confirmation highlights how network demands can reshape creative plans and accelerate franchise strategies, while Costner moved to secure steady work and directorial projects outside the show.