Yellowstone icon Kevin Costner opens up on moving on from projects which are “no longer interesting” to him – and new documentary series

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Kevin Costner, a celebrated actor who has won an Academy Award, is well-known for his work in Westerns. He recently gained even more popularity starring in the successful Paramount+ series, Yellowstone.

Kevin Costner starred as John Dutton throughout the first four seasons of the show. He then departed to concentrate on his film project, *Horizon*, and his character was subsequently written off the show without an on-screen death.

The actor is promoting a new documentary and has discussed the kinds of roles he’s looking for now, as well as his desire to leave certain projects behind.

Kevin Costner explained he’s open to any role as long as it feels personally meaningful. While he’s known for Westerns, he’s not limited to that genre. He’s happy to pursue new projects whenever he loses interest in something or feels it’s time for a change.

Stories, novels, and even short films can last forever. The key is how you tell them – whether people can connect with the story and be moved by it. That’s why some books remain timeless and are passed down through generations.

My biggest hope is to continue making work that resonates with people – not by trying to predict what they want, but by staying true to my own feelings and artistic vision. Ultimately, I want to create things that connect with others on a meaningful level when they discover them.

With Kevin Costner’s departure, the original Yellowstone series has finished, but several spin-off shows are in the works to continue the story.

Costner made the comments as he fronts new eight-part documentary series Kevin Costner’s The West.

This series, executive produced by Kevin Costner and historian Doris Kearns Goodwin, offers a new perspective on the history of the American West. It explores the fierce battle over land and how that conflict continues to influence modern America.

Costner explained that researching the documentary reinforced his belief in the accuracy of his Western films, which deliberately avoided the overly glamorous depictions often seen in that genre.

He explained that early Westerns captivated audiences with their stunning visuals. People were amazed by the vastness and beauty of the American landscape, and the combination of that scenery with music and horseback riding created an image viewers couldn’t get enough of.

When we look at a town, we often don’t consider its history – just that it *is* there. We tend to idealize what we see, forgetting the struggles and difficulties it took to build it. We overlook the slow, often violent process of exploration and conflict that shaped it, inch by inch.

Audiences weren’t comfortable with the violence, terror, and conflict between cultures. While those scenes were disturbing, the idea of heroism is more appealing and easier to accept.

Costner explained that the events in his films like *Dances with Wolves*, *Open Range*, and *Horizon* weren’t fiction. He said these stories were based on real interactions and experiences that occurred frequently in the Old West, even if the overall narratives were creatively constructed.

This documentary confirms the stories we’ve heard about the West. It shows that slavery and capture existed there, and that we often deceived Native Americans to benefit ourselves – a practice that continued across the entire region. I believe the Western films I made were truthful, authentic, and reflected reality, and this documentary supports that view.

Starting Monday, September 15th at 9pm, you can watch Kevin Costner’s The West on Sky HISTORY and NOW. If you’re not already a subscriber, you can find information on how to sign up for Sky TV.

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2025-09-15 02:34