Kevin Costner is leaving ‘Yellowstone’ before the final season is over.

It’s official: “Yellowstone” will be making its long-awaited return to screens for the second half of season five on November 10.

However, Kevin Costner has said he won’t be returning to the hit show. After Paramount Network announced the release date for the upcoming episodes, Costner shared a short clip on Instagram telling fans not to expect to see him back as John Dutton.

“I loved it, and I know you loved it. I just wanted to let you know that I won’t be returning,” Costner said.

The news is a big blow to “Yellowstone,” which in recent years became one of the most-watched TV series on cable, without the help of critical acclaim or media coverage.

The ranch opera appeals to viewers in many smaller cities across the US, bolstered by the star power of Costner, who has built a reputation for starring in Westerns.

But last year, rumors started that the series was going to come to a premature end due to a disagreement over the filming schedule between Costner, “Yellowstone” showrunner Taylor Sheridan, Paramount Global, and Paramount Network.

Paramount denied the rumors for months and then announced in May 2023 that the series would end with season five, which would be split into two parts.

Costner returned for the first half, but it was unclear whether he would stay for the second since he told his child support hearing in September 2023 that he tried to negotiate against the split season decision. He said the filming schedule would conflict with his own Western film series, “Horizon.”

Here’s a timeline of the events that led to the premature end of “Yellowstone” and Costner’s departure.

In February 2023, it was reported that “Yellowstone” may be coming to a premature end.

Kevin Costner and Taylor Sheridan of 'Yellowstone' speak onstage during the Paramount Network portion of the 2018 Winter Television Critics Association Press Tour at The Langham Huntington, Pasadena on January 15, 2018 in Pasadena, California. — Kevin Costner and Taylor Sheridan of “Yellowstone” speak onstage at the 2018 Winter Television Critics Association Press Tour on January 15, 2018, in Pasadena, California. Frederick M. Brown/Getty Images

The biggest cliffhanger in the latest season of Paramount Network’s wildly popular drama “Yellowstone” wasn’t delivered on screen but behind the camera.

Viewers learned via a Deadline report a month after the midseason finale aired that the future of the Dutton saga was in jeopardy following an alleged falling out between creator Taylor Sheridan and lead star Kevin Costner.

The outlet reported that cocreator and showrunner Sheridan, Paramount Global, and Paramount Network were looking to end the neo-Western drama after its current fifth season because of disagreements with Costner over shooting schedules.

The actor, who has been portraying protagonist John Dutton in the rating juggernaut since 2018, reportedly wanted to cut back his number of days filming on location for the remaining episodes of season five.

According to the report, the “Field of Dreams” star limited himself to being on set for just 50 days across the eight episodes which have already aired and wanted to only spend a week filming the remaining six installments.

It added that the scheduling conflicts had become a sourcee of frustration for Sheridan and caused morale problems for the other stars of the show.

The same report stated that Matthew McConaughey was in talks to lead a new as-yet-untitled spinoff that will continue the franchise.

According to rumors, Matthew McConaughey has been approached to star in a new “Yellowstone” universe series. Kevin Winter/Getty Images

Alongside the news that “Yellowstone” could be ending, Deadline also reported that the team behind the series was developing a franchise extension starring Matthew McConaughey after rejecting Costner’s latest attempt at a compromise over his shooting schedule.

It was reported at the time that the “True Detective” actor was still in the process of negotiations.

A Paramount spokesperson denied the claims but said that McConaughey is a “phenomenal talent” with whom they’d love to partner.

Matthew McConaughey leaning against a viewfinder — Paramount denied the reports but described Matthew McConaughey as a “phenomenal talent.” John Nacion/Getty

“We have no news to report,” a Paramount Network spokesperson responded when Insider reached out for comment in February 2023.

“Kevin Costner is a big part of ‘Yellowstone,’ and we hope that’s the case for a long time to come.”

Still, the statement didn’t exactly put to bed the rumors, going on to add: “Thanks to the brilliant mind of Taylor Sheridan, we are always working on franchise expansions of this incredible world he has built. Matthew McConaughey is a phenomenal talent with whom we’d love to partner.”

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