Kevin Costner’s Demands for Veto Power on Yellowstone Scripts Was the Last Straw for Taylor Sheridan (Report)
Charlie Mason
Editor
Yellowstone’s off-screen drama continues to rival anything that has ever happened on the Paramount Network hit.
According to Puck, before the Writers Guild of America strike began in May, series co-creator Taylor Sheridan had completed scripts for the back half of the show’s fifth and final season that did not include leading man Kevin Costner, whose alleged demands have been widely reported. Per the industry-insider newsletter, Costner’s reps later expressed his desire to return for Season 5B and possibly even Seasons 6 and 7. Sheridan was said to be willing to write Costner’s John Dutton back into 5B, post-strike. But then… argh.
When Sheridan got on the phone with Costner in early July to discuss his potential Yellowstone comeback, Puck claims that the Golden Globe winner ran through his demands: increased money, a reduced shooting schedule, and the right to review, approve and potentially veto every script. That, obviously, was a big ol’ no-go for Sheridan, who pens every episode. (Costner’s rep has not responded to TVLine’s request for a response to Puck’s reporting.)
However the Dutton family’s patriarch winds up being killed off — he’ll likely fall victim to the murder plot that adopted son Jamie hatched in the midseason finale — it will still have to meet Costner’s approval, Puck notes: His Yellowstone contract includes a “moral death” provision that lists the ways that his character can and cannot meet his maker.
This weekend, CBS begins airing Yellowstone from Season 1, Episode 1, Sundays at 9/8c. (Some changes may be in order, though; for instance, these.) Lawmen: Bass Reeves, an offshoot of Yellowstone prequel 1883, debuts on Paramount+ on Sunday, Nov. 5. (Watch the trailer here.) And when the writers’ and actors’ strikes eventually end, Sheridan will get to work on a Yellowstone spinoff with Matthew McConaughey as its lead.
so to save face Sheridan is spilling tea on this deal? IDK I’m still team Costner. It’s unfortunate this is happening but I truly believe Sheridan isn’t focused on Yellowstone. Costner has been in this industry for so long, he can smell that BS anywhere and he has the confidence to make these demands from the higher-ups so I don’t fault him for wanting control when the story/writers room became messy (after S2).
Except right after that is when the show became popular.
I like watching the show, but there’s obviously many better programs out there, just for my taste.
But still, you can’t deny what they’re doing is working. Wherever you stand on the rumors of Costner wanting a significantly reduced work schedule, it is clear he does not plan to take on MORE duties. So, he would not be overseeing scripts to ensure certain supporting cast get clearer stories, he would be making sure his character always looks good and is at the top.
Eric Braeden has a lot of control over his character on Y&R. Being on a show for 43 years will give you that, but he doesn’t get to control every aspect of the program, nor would he want to.
Team Sheridan all the way here.
Recast Costner
So he got canned for doing the same thing people are praising Jenna Ortega for doing.
I love Yellowstone as does a lot of people. That being said I hate to see any of the Duttons die except Jamie. He is my least favorite character. He has to go. If he is not killed at least he should ” run away”. I am not a fan of death so just leaving should be enough. As for John Dutton being killed off come on. NOT good! I started watching the series because of Kevin Costner as I am sure alot of people did. I of course was hooked and I LOVE all the characters (except Jamie). I can not stand that his character is still on the show. Just to look at him makes me sick. The reason for his demise being based on more say on how the script is, is so stupid. A lot of actors have that say. My friend says that Sheridan has so many irons in the fire that he is losing it.
Sheridan’s scripts are a mess, too drawn out and the narrative stalls. Completely Team Costner and not watching anymore Sheridan shows. So I can give up my Paramount Plus subscription now since they backed Sheridan instead of the star who made the series popular.
I have given up my subscription and feel exactly like you do.
These two….the worlds on fire and everything is falling apart and they’re fighting over some Paramount CABLE show that became a hit? Be happy and glad you’re working on a hit and shut the h*** up.
Did you just censor your own use of hell?
If god’s gonna smite you for it, I’m sure he can crack your code of h***.
At the end of the day Sheridan knew what he was getting into the day he signed Costner up for the show. I’m not sure if Yellowstone would have become how big it’s become for Sheridan (or even picked up as a series) if it weren’t for Costner signing up. Costner demands we’re only going to increase as most stars that have had long successful careers like him. Sheridan also knew what he was getting into when he also tries to basic run all these shows himself.
Was Costner a draw though? Before Yellowstone, he was basically remembered for his massive epic flops like Waterworld and The Postman.
I remember him for some quirky little independent films from way back when, like THE UNTOUCHABLES, FIELD OF DREAMS, BULL DURHAM, NO WAY OUT, ROBIN HOOD: PRINCE OF THIEVES, JFK, A PERFECT WORLD, DANCES WITH WOLVES, THE BODYGUARD, TIN CUP, and SILVERADO. But I guess some young’uns only remember a person’s failures in the end.
In what world were any of those movies “quirky indies”? Bull Durham *might* be considered a “quirky” exception since it was female-driven, but the rest were definitely mainstream studio pictures.
Sarcasm, meet JBJ. JBJ, meet sarcasm. 🙄
He’s definitely not the reason I started or kept watching. It was the writing, dialogue and complex characters. He’s definitely the most notable but he wasn’t the draw for the entire audience.
100% same for me, and I’m a fan of his movies and watched them for decades (fwiw my favourite is No Way Out).
I’ve watched every Taylor Sheridan series except for Lionesses (have it ready to binge watch) and they’re all excellent IMO.
Um, no.
Bill Durham
Dances With Wolves
Field of Dreams
The Untouchables
….
Seems as though Cost Kevin Costner is a very important role in Yellowstone as a head of family I feel that you guys should get together and work things out and bring back the picture as it should be not cutting people out on one trying to out distance the other be grown up and handle your business
I wish yellowstone would continue for at least a couple more seasons. I just recently found out about it and have already watched the entire series.. Love it, love it l,ove it..
The only reason that show became popular was because Kevin Costner was in it. I’ve always thought that Taylor Sheridan was quite full of himself.
Sheridan has steered this series to the Train Station. I just don’t care anymore.
Moral Death Provision was the name of my third studio album.
I want Kevin Costner to stay on Yellowstone and due season 6 and 7:00 after finishing 5 Sheridan should work with him give him what he wants he’s a wonderful kind person I don’t want to spend off with Matthew McConaughey I want more Yellowstone! Thank you
Learn the difference between the words due and do. They are not the same. Neither are the words spend and spin ! If you’re not intelligent enough to post English that is understandable, why post at all ?
@Gary – Did you ever consider she didn’t bother to proofread her comment? I find that many people who post here either don’t bother to proofread. (Some are even too lazy to use punctuation.) But there is no reason to criticize her whether she forgot to proofread her comment or doesn’t know the difference between due and do. No one is perfect!
Can you say diva? Honestly, John is my least favorite character. He’s the one person who has screwed up everyone. He manipulated and molded all of his children into what he needed them to be. He’s selfish. I get that the ranch is important and he promised his father but he has played puppet master with their lives. Take Jamie. Unpopular opinion but I’d like him. I root for him to best his family. John applied to Harvard FOR him and then told him he was going. Jamie has other plans but what John says goes. He wanted Jamie to be governor and then when he realize he could not control Jaime, he took the role himself and refused to do the damn job lol.
Kevin Costner sounds like such a diva. Kill off John and keep it going another season to wrap things up properly.
It’s just a TV show folks.
Taylor sheridan is a narcissistic a-hole who ruined his own show . Who wants to watch stubby legged horses skid
Across the screen? Not me and not MR Costner.
If sheridan were jalf as good as he thinks he is he would already have so many Emmys his huge ego wouldnt be able to accept them all.
I guess Taylor wants to shoot hisself in the foot. Him and Kevin needs to come around to a agreement. If he kills off Kevin off it will be like he will be killing off the fan base that Kevin brings to the show. I hope he thinks about it. And it will impact the erst of he cast as well.
he wants out so he’s making demands so that they’ll let him go.
I never could get into Yellowstone. It was more of a shock value every single episode instead of a meaningful, well-laid out storyline with characters that I actually cared about.
Let the show die already. It’s not sustainable to rely solely on Sheridan to write the scripts for a large ensemble cast.
If Sheridan is going to tank these shows he seriously needs to let other people step in. It’s the opposite of too many cooks in the kitchen. He’s a single cook who started 10 meals at once and some of them are in flames. It’s obviously tanking the quality of his shows. Doing 3-5 shows of 6-8 episodes is one thing but this man is doing like 10 shows of 10-14 episodes a season. It’s Insanity. He needs to step back and decide what he really wants to do because he can’t do it all, at least at once. Pick 3 or 4 and focus on that.
And Costner really needs to drop his ego and chill out. This guy can’t do 8-10 episodes a year? Especially for his pay? Get the f outta here. You also can’t “magically” reduce shooting days. These shows take time, even more time than the 8 days per episode they used to be. Asking for full control over the show is also dumb. Then it really isn’t the showrunners’ vision anymore and weakens the integrity of the show. Making sure your characters are well written is one thing, but taking it over like a dictator and changing the scripts is ridiculous.
They both need to sort it out and lose the ego. They are on one of the biggest shows on TV. Have some humility and respect for your audience. Especially when the industry is as screwed up as it is right now.
Yellowstone will never be the same with out Kevin or Rip!!! Why bother to watch it if they are gone.. Sry. But that’s the way it is for me…
Well I’m done watching Yellow stone if Kevin C is not going to continue being on there it will not be any good AND Matthew well he can not act so that show was the best, but now it will go down very fast. I believe I would get Kevin back someway.