Kevin Costner says he 'makes movies for men' - but that he also writes strong female characters... after awkward exchange with Gayle King over Yellowstone drama

Kevin Costner got candid about the audience he has in mind when creating Hollywood magic.

The 69-year-old Oscar winner — who has become synonymous with the Western genre — said he is aware his directorial efforts tend to appeal more to men, but he emphasized that strong women are his primary interest.

'I make movies for men. That's what I do,' Costner said on the latest Happy Sad Confused podcast, per Variety. 'But I won't make a movie unless I have strong women characters.'

He added: 'That's how I've conducted my career and I think that's why I have a good following.'

The director/writer/actor is currently promoting his Horizon: An American Saga film and said the planned four-movie epic differs from other Westerns in that its female characters 'drive the story in every plot line.'

Kevin Costner got candid about the audience he has in mind when creating Hollywood magic; (pictured May)

The 69-year-old Oscar winner — who has become synonymous with the Western genre — said he is aware his directorial efforts tend to appeal more to men, but he emphasized that strong women are his primary interest

He also said he said he 'couldn't conceive of a scene that didn't involve a woman' while creating the story.

Horizon follows the stories of multiple characters, including several female ones,  during and after the Civil War as they pioneer the American West.

Costner leads the film alongside a diverse ensemble cast featuring actresses Sienna Miller, Jena Malone, Isabelle Fuhrman, Abbey Lee, and Ella Hunt.

Apart from Horizon, Costner's directorial endeavors include Dances With Wolves, The Postman, and Open Range.

The podcast appearance comes after Costner was quick to dismiss Gayle King as she attempted to probe him on how his alleged demands for more money and reported feuds behind-the-scenes led to him quitting Yellowstone.

The actor was vague when he formally announced his departure from the beloved Paramount western last week amid mounting speculation of issues regarding pay, scheduling, and claims he had clashed with creator Taylor Sheridan.

Appearing on Thursday's episode of CBS Mornings, Kevin stressed that he 'loved' the show and would go back 'in a second,' but refused to divulge information on what really happened.

'I loved the show before anybody,' he told Gayle, also 69. 'It was Taylor and myself. The truth never changes. That love was really strong.

'I make movies for men. That's what I do,' Costner said on the latest Happy Sad Confused podcast, per Variety; (pictured with Mary McDonnell in Dances with Wolves)

'But I won't make a movie unless I have strong women characters,' he added; (pictured The Untouchables)

'That's how I've conducted my career and I think that's why I have a good following'; (still from Yellowstone)

The director/writer/actor is currently promoting his Horizon: An American Saga film and said the planned four-movie epic differs from other Westerns in that its female characters 'drive the story in every plot line' (Field of Dreams)

'The idea of going back, I would do that in a second if I felt that it was - it was something that I could do, wanted to do. I would make it fit.'

Gayle then voiced her confusion as she proceeded to ask what was preventing Kevin from returning to Yellowstone, while also raising the widespread reports of a feud.

'But the characterization of you isn't necessarily flattering,' she said. 'You made demands, you want to have a certain schedule, you want to shoot at a certain time, you want certain money.

'If it's not that hard, why can't the two of you be able to work it out? People would love to see that.'

Kevin, however, was quick to shut down Gayle's line of questioning, and firmly replied: 'It's not therapy, Gayle.

'We're not going to discuss this on the show really, honestly.'

'I'm a good therapist,' Gayle interjected as Kevin talked over her.

'I've conducted my life in a pretty straightforward way,' he said.

'I've never missed any obligations in my entire career, so the idea is wide open for me. It just happens to be like can I fall in love with the writing, can I fall in love with the part that wants to go forward?'

Kevin confirmed earlier this month that he would not be returning to Yellowstone.

In a short clip shared to his social media accounts, he said: 'Hi everyone. I just want to reach out and let you know that after this long year and a half of working on Horizon and doing all the things that's required, and thinking about Yellowstone — that beloved series that I love, that I know you love — I just realized that I'm not going to be able to continue season 5B or into the future.

'It was something that really changed me.

'I loved it, and I know you loved it and I just wanted to let you know that I won't be returning.'

The actor and director concluded with what may have been an entreaty for his fans to see his upcoming Horizon films.

'I love the relationship we've been able to develop, and I'll see you at the movies,' he added.

The announcement meant that Kevin's final run of episodes was for season 5A, which aired from November of 2022 to January of 2023.

His character, the patriarch of the Dutton family, ran the Yellowstone Dutton Ranch, a fictional ranch that was the largest in Montana.

It bordered Yellowstone National Park and the Broken Rock Indian Reservation, which often put the wealthy family at odds with their Native American neighbors and greedy developers looking to snatch up their land.

Before his official announcement, there had been reports that Kevin had clashed behind the scenes with producers over pay and scheduling.

Costner was quick to shut down speculation about rumored behind the scenes drama on the set of Yellowstone

CBS Mornings star Gayle King, 69, referenced reports that disputes about pay and scheduling conflicts had led to Kevin's exit from the show

Kevin, 69, had played John Dutton III in the television series and told Gayle he would 'love' to return (pictured with his costar Dabney Coleman)

It had been claimed that he wanted to shoot fewer days for the season to accommodate filming of Horizon.

Last week, Kevin said he was 'disappointed' that no one high up from Yellowstone publicly had his back following his exit.

He told People: 'I read all the stories. 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?''

The A-lister said he enjoyed playing the role of John Dutton III during his five-season stint on the series between 2018 to 2022.

He said that he had been patient for more than a year anticipating the show's storyline and shooting schedule, but ultimately 'the scripts weren't there.'

'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.'

Kevin admitted he was irked by reports he departed the series to work on his film series, or made himself available for filming for only one week, the publication reported.

There has been rumors of a feud between the actor and Yellowstone creator Taylor Sheridan (pictured)

'In the very end, I couldn't do any more for it than I had already done,' he said of the show.

He also said that he initially only agreed to be on a single season of the series in the first place.

'When it was first pitched to me by Taylor 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,' he told the outlet.

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

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