It’s a soap opera within a soap opera. By slamming the door of “Yellowstone”, Kevin Costner puts an end to the series created by Taylor Sheridan. The latter returns to this thunderous departure.
The case began to come out last February. Reports surfaced of a dispute between Yellowstone star Kevin Costner and series co-creator Taylor Sheridan over the actor’s filming schedule – which he deemed too hectic – for the remaining episodes of the current fifth season.
Three months later, it was finally announced that Kevin Costner would not be returning to the show after the fifth season ended. At this time, production was still unable to provide any information on when the cast and crew would return to Montana to complete filming for the final episodes.
The interpreter of John Dutton, the ruthless patriarch of the Dutton family, is always busy with his saga of several Civil War films, Horizon: An America Saga. Additionally, the Yellowstone Extended Universe will expand with a new spin-off series spearheaded by Matthew McConaughey. This one was officially commissioned by Paramount Network.
Yesterday Sheridan spoke with The Hollywood Reporter in an article that tackles the delicate question behind the scenes of the series. He confirms that Kevin Costner would have requested fewer shooting days for the last season in order to focus on his own western project:
“The last conversation I had with Kevin was about a passion project he wanted to do. He and the chain were arguing over when he could be done with Yellowstone. I said, ‘We can definitely work on a schedule that’s closer to his preferred release date,’ which we did.“
The actor opted to shoot his scenes early on, while the scripts were still being written, but tensions quickly arose due to Costner’s schedule. Taylor Sheridan gives herself bluntly to the American magazine:
“My opinion of Kevin as an actor hasn’t changed. His portrayal of John Dutton is symbolic and powerful…and I’ve never had a problem with Kevin that we couldn’t sort out over the phone.
But once the lawyers get involved, people can’t talk to each other and start saying things that aren’t true and trying to blame it on how the press or the public seem to be reacting. He took a lot of it and no one deserves that.
His film seems to be a big priority for him, and he wants to focus on something else. I really hope the movie is worth it – and that it’s a good movie. I’m disappointed. He truncates the end of his character. It does not alter it, but it truncates it.“
While the studio is now focusing on the sequel to the series led by Matthew McConaughey, Taylor Sheridan says he is optimistic about the arrival of the latter, whom he considers a “natural element” in the universe of Yellowstone.
In the meantime, we will still have to be patient before seeing the last episodes of Yellowstone.