Kevin Costner sets record straight on 'Yellowstone' exit rumours

Kevin Costner has addressed rumours about his departure from the hit series Yellowstone, denying reports of behind-the-scenes tension and ego clashes.

In an interview with People magazine, Costner expressed his fondness for the show, its cast, and the world it portrays.

He played the lead role of John Dutton for five seasons before rumours of his exit surfaced, with some speculating that he was making way for his new project, Horizon: An American Saga.

The future of Yellowstone remains uncertain, with no official announcements made.

“When it was first pitched to me by Taylor [Sheridan] it was one season and [like] a long movie, which [is] speaking my language… but ultimately, I think what happened was the studio didn’t want that,” Costner said of the initial job.

“And because he’s such a prolific writer, he said, ‘I can do that. I can make a series that goes on.'”

Costner said he “stepped up” to the extension, and told Sheridan, “I’ll do it for three seasons… and I ended up doing it for five.”

He said that although no one could give a production schedule, he was willing to work past the fifth.

“There was a moment where that show for me stopped for 14 months,” he said. “That’s the fact. I could have done a lot of things in that time, but I wasn’t aware that that [hold-up] was going to happen.”

Costner claimed he was "disappointed" that no one stood up for him when allegations started circulating that he was leaving because of his ego.

“I read all the stories,” he said. “I was disappointed that nobody on their side… ever stepped up to defend what it was I actually did for them. There came a moment where I thought, ‘Wow, when is somebody going to say something about what I have done versus what I haven’t done?'”