Kevin Costner is turning the page on a new chapter in his career following his departure from the hit television drama Yellowstone. The 70-year-old actor, who first rose to fame with his performance as Eliot Ness in The Untouchables and later won acclaim for Dances With Wolves, says he is ready to shift his attention toward projects of his own.
In an exclusive interview with Radio Teams on Monday, September 15, Kevin Costner reflected on what motivates him as a storyteller. “It doesn’t have to be a Western; it could be something else. But when something is no longer interesting to me, or there’s some other reason that I need to move on, I’m willing to do that,” Costner explained.
He emphasized his belief in the lasting power of stories, regardless of medium. “I think you can write a short story, and it can live forever. You can write a novel, and it can live forever. You can make a short movie, and it can live forever. It’s about how you’re telling it. It’s about whether other people are going to be able to relate to it and move to it.
That’s why there are certain books that continue to live with us, that we pass on to our children.” The comments mark his first detailed remarks about life after Yellowstone, which concluded its final season in December 2024. Kevin Costner‘s character, John Dutton III, patriarch of the Dutton family, was written out of the show during season five, ending his arc in dramatic fashion.
The decision to leave the series was closely watched by fans, given how strongly the show had been associated with Costner’s presence. Created by Taylor Sheridan, Yellowstone had become one of the most popular cable dramas in the United States, spurring spinoffs and a devoted following that extended beyond traditional Western audiences.
Costner’s departure was first reported last year amid speculation about creative differences and scheduling conflicts with his own directing and producing work. The actor has long balanced his Hollywood career with passion projects, including directing the Academy Award-winning Dances With Wolves and the more recent Horizon: An American Saga.
While Costner remains closely linked to the Western genre, his latest comments suggest he is open to broader creative horizons. By stressing that “it doesn’t have to be a Western,” he signaled that his next steps may surprise audiences who primarily know him as a rugged on-screen cowboy.
For now, fans will have to wait to see which direction Costner chooses. Whether through film, television, or another medium, his focus appears fixed on telling stories with staying power—projects that, as he put it, “can live forever.”