After Wyatt Earp (1994), Waterworld (1995), and The Postman (1997), the 2000s saw Costner’s movie star status change slightly. He starred in and directed Open Range in 2003, which remains one of Costner’s most beloved Westerns, but the next 20 years saw him starring in a number of generally lesser titles, with some notable exceptions. He also played supporting roles in movies like Man of Steel (2013) and Jack Ryan: Shadow Recruit (2014). In 2018, though, Costner staged a comeback in the world of TV.
Kevin Costner Makes Yellowstone Return With New Docuseries
But It’s Not The Return You’re Expecting
After departing Yellowstone, Kevin Costner is now set to explore the real-life location in Yellowstone to Yosemite with Kevin Costner, a new series. Costner first appeared as John Dutton on Taylor Sheridan’s hit Paramount Network neo-Western in 2018, and he played the character for four and a half seasons, departing the show ahead of season 5, part 2. Now, following the Yellowstone series finale, the actor already has a new project set to arrive in the very near future.
Yellowstone to Yosemite follows Costner as he retraces the path of Theodore Roosevelt’s 1903 Yosemite expedition, which was guided by John Muir and resulted in both Yosemite Valley and Mariposa becoming part of the national park. Check out the full synopsis for the series and a promotional image below:
“Yellowstone to Yosemite with Kevin Costner” will consist of three episodes featuring Costner as he traces the footsteps of the pivotal 1903 Yosemite expedition of 26th President Teddy Roosevelt and environmental advocate John Muir. Through spectacular visuals of the geology, flora and fauna of Glacier Point to El Capitan, Yosemite Falls and more, Costner brings the fascinating journey and long battles to preserve the American frontier to life. Juxtaposed with Costner’s active exploration of the park, each episode delves into the history behind the journey that changed America.
Throughout the voyage, Costner explores the region’s rich Indigenous American legacy, the serendipitous arrival of outsiders in 1850, and how John Muir evolved into a crusader for our wildest places. Through Costner’s perspective, he illuminates the struggle waged by Muir as he contended with the intricate politics of resource management and how Roosevelt’s intervention culminated in the establishment of a more structured National Park System, the creation of 150 National Forests, 5 National Parks, and the preservation and protection of 230 million acres of precious land.
What Yellowstone To Yosemite Means For Kevin Costner
He’s Moved On From John Dutton
Costner’s Dutton family patriarch took center stage for most of Yellowstone‘s successful run. Things fell apart, however, due to behind-the-scenes drama involving Costner and Sheridan, with Costner reportedly looking to reduce his time on the series to pursue his Horizon: An American Saga project. Though Costner would express a willingness to return, it seems things just ultimately didn’t work out, with the actor later confirming that he wouldn’t be appearing.
Our Take On Yellowstone To Yosemite
Costner Will Struggle To Escape Yellowstone
Costner’s departure from Yellowstone was a lengthy ordeal, with various reports and updates keeping the show and its behind-the-scenes struggles in the public eye for well over a year. If Costner had left the show quietly, Dutton’s hurried ending may have still been frustrating for audiences, but it may not have been quite so overpowering in its off-screen impact. The echoes of Yellowstone will likely continue to reverberate for Costner in the years ahead, especially since much of the reporting didn’t paint him in a particularly positive light.
What Else Does Kevin Costner Have On The Horizon?
The Yellowstone Actor Has Two More Movies In The Works
In addition to the third and fourth Horizon: An American Saga movies, Costner has two major projects currently in the works. One is a movie called Headhunters from director Steven Holleran, with Costner starring opposite Chloe East, Daniel Zovatto, and Sam Corlett. The thriller film, which Costner co-wrote with Holleran, follows an expat named Lazer as he leads a group of surfers to an uncharted island only to find himself in conflict with the ancient tribe living there.
Very little is known about the second movie Costner has coming up, but it will feature him collaborating with director Ariel Vroman again after 2016’s Criminal. While plot information for this film is being kept under wraps, Vromen, in a statement to Deadline, called the film a “longtime passion project” for Costner, who will produce and star. Production is expected to get underway early this year, so more information on this one could be coming in the near future. For now, though, audiences can catch Costner in Yellowstone to Yosemite in February.