Costner has already expressed that he was disappointed to learn that his beloved Yellowstone series would be moving on without his involvement in the completion of Yellowstone season 5, part 2. During the summer of 2023, Costner sparked great controversy by abruptly leaving the Taylor Sheridan project to focus on his highly-anticipated Horizon Western series, which turned out to backfire on the Oscar-winning director. The box office of Horizon: An American Saga – Chapter 1 fell far short of expectations.
The abysmal box office performance of Horizon: An American Saga – Chapter 1 forced the anticipated release date of Horizon: An American Saga – Chapter 2 to be delayed indefinitely. Costner ambitiously and unconventionally planned essentially back-to-back theatrical releases of his new western franchise, with the second film originally scheduled to be released on August 16, 2024, following Chapter 1’s release date of June 28, 2024. Even though Kevin Costner doesn’t appear early on in Horizon – Chapter 1, Horizon was still Costner’s first directorial effort since 2003’s Open Range and should have drawn more of a box office presence.
Horizon’s Box Office & Sequel Delay Opens The Door For Kevin Costner’s Yellowstone Return
Costner isn’t likely to return but his Horizon flop may reopen the door
Costner has already expressed recently that there is no open door for him to return to the Yellowstone franchise. However, this was before Horizon: An American Saga – Chapter 1 became one of the biggest box office flops of 2024 thus far and its immediate sequel was pulled from its original August release date. These are terrible signs for Costner’s anticipated Horizon 3 and Horizon 4 sequels, which are more likely than ever not to come to fruition at this point. Unfortunately for Costner, his best bet would be to return to Yellowstone in some capacity to at least give that celebrated series the ending it deserves.
It’s no secret by now that Sheridan and Costner butted heads over how Yellowstone would close out its celebrated original series. The initial plan was to have the series run for at least six or more seasons with Costner fully on board. Costner’s dedication to bringing his Horizon passion project to life, however, ended up faltering those plans and led to months of uncertainty about the future of one of television’s most popular original series. Sheridan and Paramount announced a slate of new spin-offs and sequel series that would do without Costner. Now that Horizon is seemingly DOA, Costner may have to walk back to Yellowstone as John Dutton if they’ll allow it.
Costner’s vision for his Horizon franchise may be unattainable after the box office flop of its first installment and concern for its imminent sequel.
Everything Kevin Costner Has Said About His Yellowstone Exit
Costner recalls the whole ordeal as dramatic
Back in summer 2023, it seemed like nobody, not even Costner or Sheridan themselves, knew what was going to happen with Yellowstone. After Costner’s abrupt departure, the creators of Yellowstone announced that it would be ending with part 2 of season 5. The sequel series starring Matthew McConaughey was then announced and Costner eventually was cast out of the picture, opting to spend more time working on his first two Horizon films. Now that the first one has become a box office failure and the second one was pulled from theaters, Costner’s next move seems as uncertain as ever.
Costner finally addressed his Yellowstone exit in a recent interview. “It wasn’t tough. It was a necessary decision to say, ‘Hey, OK, I don’t want to really talk about this anymore. It’s time to move on. I gave this thing five seasons. I was really happy to do it. And I don’t need drama. So, let’s just take that drama away, let’s take the guessing [away]. The fans have been way too good to me. And my obligation is to go on and continue to make things that mean something to them.” He also confirmed that he will not be appearing in Yellowstone season 5 part 2, but of course, circumstances have changed.
For anyone wondering why it took Kevin Costner so long to address the Yellowstone rumors, Screen Rant has the scoop.
Why Kevin Costner Needs To Feature In Yellowstone Season 5, Part 2
Costner may have burned his bridge back to Yellowstone
After making an enormous gamble with Horizon that has yet to pay off, and likely will not based on its current box office projects, Costner must unfortunately search for redemption. It’s unclear whether the direct sequel of Horizon: An American Saga will ever hit theaters at this point and based on the current information, it seems like the bridge for Costner to go back to Yellowstone may have been burned. Theoretically speaking, it would be a no-brainer for Costner to wrap up Yellowstone properly and let bygones be bygones between him and Sheridan. Ultimately, there may be too much in the way for that to happen.
In order for Yellowstone season 5, part 2 to close out the series on a high note, it needs to resolve several key plot threads in a satisfying way.