Yellowstone’s Kevin Costner Divulges What’s ‘Really F–king Bothered Me’ About Exit Reports
Charlie Mason
Editor
Timing is everything — and where Yellowstone is concerned, it seems to have had everything to do with Kevin Costner‘s departure as the Dutton family’s beleaguered patriarch, John. In an attempt to set the record straight about his exit ahead of Season 5B, the Golden Globe winner tells GQ that yes, ultimately, scheduling was to blame. Whether because of COVID, strikes or other issues, “we very rarely started [production] when we said we would, and we didn’t finish when we said we would.
“And I was OK with that… ” he adds, “but it wasn’t a trend that could continue for me.” Certainly not if he hoped to lock in dates to make his big-screen Western Horizon.
The breaking point between Costner, Paramount Network and 101 Studios seems to have arrived when the decision was made to split Yellowstone’s fifth season into two parts. “Their big plan was to suddenly do eight [episodes] now and then in the fall do eight more,” he recalls. “I said, ‘I have a contract to do Horizon, and I have people and money.’ I think there was a belief that I couldn’t get it mounted.” But the writer-director-star managed to pull it off.
According to Costner, he continued trying to be a team player. When he found himself with a free week, he offered it to Yellowstone. “And somebody picked up the idea that I only wanted to work one week,” he says. “And that has been a carryover thing that I have seen in magazines: that I’ve only wanted to work one week.”
That was not the case, the actor argues. Nevertheless, he was cast as “the hold-up,” as it were. “My big disappointment is I never heard Paramount or 101 really come to my defense and say, ‘That’s not true. He was going to do three more seasons… That’s really f–king bothered me, that none of them would actually try to set the record straight.”
Costner maintains that he is still willing to reprise his role. Co-creator Taylor Sheridan “and I know what the conditions are for coming back, and I’ll just keep that between ourselves.” But since Season 5B has already begun production — and last we heard, John had been written out — it seems doubtful that we will get to see him ride into the sunset.
TVLine has reached out to Paramount Network for comment.
Your thoughts on Costner’s side of the story? The comments section is now open.
I don’t watch Yellowstone, but I’ve been keeping my eye on the back and forth of all of this. If his version of events is true and the studios and Sheridan are throwing him under the bus, that sucks.
Whatever people think about Costner, the character John Dutton is an integral part of the story linking the older generation to the new and what owning and preserving the land meant to him his Dad and previous generations of Duttons. He also reined Beth in from going completely off the rails last season with Jamie. It’s hard to imagine that Beth will rein it in in the second half of this season if they eventually kill John off and that will get old to watch. It’s such a shame if what Costner is saying is true and they couldn’t have worked with him to accommodate his schedule and keep the show going for another 3 seasons if that was the original intention. Such a shame.
He’s actually my least favorite character aside from Beth. Costner is an amazing actor but John Dutton is a terrible father. If you think about how he moves and operates, it’s pretty awful. He brands his people but he doesn’t wear the brand. He has manipulated and molded his children into what HE needed them to be: Beth is the attack dog. Jamie is the lawyer. Kaycee is being groomed to takeover but doesn’t want it. Rip is the lap dog. I know many don’t like Jamie but I think he got a raw deal. He didn’t ask to be adopted and then John applied to Harvard for him when Jamie had other plans. Then he wanted him to run for Governor and blind-sided him by taking the position himself and then REFUSED to do it LOL. John has screwed up ALL of his children. I think he loves them but the minute they don’t do exactly what he wants–there’s a problem.
Same here. Aside from some good scenes and great lines–I cannot stand John or Beth. They are both selfish and entitled. I mean, Jamie did something terrible when he was a TEENAGER and for decades she has continued to emotionally and physically abuse him for it. He has apologized. He said it’s his biggest regret in his life but still–she berates him for it every chance she gets. He has saved the ranch and their bacon so many times. He even made sure she didn’t go down for assault and still, it’s not enough for her. Rip is a saint I tell you. How or why he loves her is beyond me LOL.
Sheridan seems to be something of a “D” bag. His success has really gone to his head.
How dare he not relinquish more creative control to Costner who was already EP and had say over how if ever his character would kick the bucket. He wasn’t the creator of the show. Taylor is. Why shouldn’t he expand his universe when Paramount has offered him a deal similar to what Ryan Murphy and Shonda Rimes got with Netflix? Sure, he’s spreading himself thin overseeing all of this but that’s his right as this shows came from his mind and they have resonated with audiences.
Well it sounds more reasonable than them saying he only wanted to work a week. Especially after so many years of doing it. If you crap the bed with your production schedule because you’re trying to make 50 spinoffs then you can’t expect everyone to sit on their butt and wait for you.
“I can only work for one week.”
“So you are saying you can only work that one week?”
“I didn’t say I could only work for that one week.”
“You literally just said you could only work that one week.”
“No, I said that that’s the only week I’m available while I’m doing my movie.”
“You literally just said that you could only work that one week.”
“No, I said that that’s the only week I’m available while I’m doing my movie. If you want me for more, I’m free after I’ve wrapped my movie.”
“You literally just said that you could only work that one week.”
“Okay, that’s it. Call me back when you’ve decided that you understand the concept of negotiating in good faith.”
He could only work the one week, and then come back for more later when his schedule freed up. Still kind of sketchy, but not as bad as had been said up till now. There is a difference between “I can only work one week” and “I can only work one week RIGHT NOW, but more weeks later.”
Kevin’s account makes perfect sense. Taylor had too many spin-off projects from Yellowstone and Yellowstone suffered for it. Episodes consumed with filler material that lacked the standards of the previous seasons. Did Taylor and Paramount think that Kevin was going to put his other plans on hold for them? There was an original schedule that Paramount didn’t honor. Oh well, I just want to see the second season of 1923 and then be done with the franchise. I’m not looking forward to the final season of Yellowstone.
What has been omitted in this article is that Costner signed on for 3 more seasons. If Taylor Sheridan had not been spread so thin and let his ego run wild there would have been more seasons of Yellowstone. As Costner has stated in another interview, Yellowstone came first but Paramount/Sheridan didn’t want to negotiate in good faith.
It’s been so long I just don’t care about anything Sheridan does.
Sheridan has been making Costner as the villian. He has so many projects. he forgot that the actors also have lives and schedules
You won’t hear from them, they allow rumors like this to run wild on the hope that the hype will keep people watching, unfortunately for them, this time it cost them their lead actor, and rather than take the blame, they will make us think it was his fault and hopefully this will keep us watching. NOT, either put the rumors to rest and negotiate to get Costner back, or watch the show go down in flames. Or perhaps he cost to much money so you used this to get rid of him? All I know is the Networks are out of control, they no longer give shows a chance to grow an audience, and even if they make money from a show, it has to be a huge amount or it’s gone. It’s all about the Benny’s, not the viewers!
I believe Costner 100% because Sheridan got greedy with all his spin offs and he was writing the scripts. He has spoiled what could have been several more good seasons. What a shame! Yes, there are other good actors on Yellowstone but for me, John Dutton has been the kingpin.
We need Kevin to finish yellowstone as john Dutton it would be the same if he isn’t on the show to finish up.
You know what, actually. This makes complete sense, and knowing what we know about Taylor Sheridan at this point… It doesn’t surprise me. I’ve still all along that he was the one that blew Yellowstone up. It wasn’t Costner. Sheridan’s just got too many irons in the fire, and it looks like that Horizon was a sticking point that pushed him too far. Because he had 10 million other shows that he had to worry about, and now his main show’s star couldn’t work because of a prior commitment. And I can totally see him flying off the rails because of that.
of course nobody said anything, because they want the show to end and get to stream the successor on their own service…
As if Matthew McConaughey, who still hasn’t signed on the dotted line, could replace Costner. smh
IN MY OPINION It seems that Paramount is making enemies everywhere, and their hesitance to sell to a movie studio (Skydance) instead of hedge fund destroyers has shown where their alliances are – with their golden parachutes. Along with their attitude toward Kevin, their cancellation of Wolf Pack and other shows, with their slaves CBS cancelling “So Help Me Todd” for game shows and other such crud, reminds one of what happened at the CW. Check their schedule on TV and TRY to tell me all is well there too. OMG regular TV is REALLY turning into a wasteland, and the streamers, especially Amazon, are splitting the shows up into little groups and charging to watch anything in that group. It’s shameful. We can’t even watch Dr. Who anymore; the BBC has sold the series to Disney+, the current most expensive streamer so after years and years of watching the show, loyalty was sold to the highest bidder. These are my opinions.
Come on folks, quit dicking around and do the next episode.
Why did he wait until now to say all this?
Because he’s not that kind of guy. He takes a job, shows up and does the work and doesn’t worry about what others are saying. A class act. imho
The whole thing sucks! The show is already ruined. To little to late. Don’t blame you though
Kevin Costner appears to be the scapegoat. Yellowstone’s loss. I don’t see any success in the future due to this.
Don’t people realize that Costner has about the biggest ego ever seen in Hollywood? If not for Yellowstone and Sheridan, Costner would be starring at best in a “Where are they now?” episode. He killed off Yellowstone for his dream movies the first of which is being reviled by the critics. He openly said that he sunk his kids’ inheritance into this and he doesn’t even have enough money to finish the series of movies. I understand that many of you weren’t around when Costner pulled something similar with his Waterworld movie but it’s all about him. The way people defend him makes me think that you don’t get that it’s all about Costner.
good explanation explains a lot to me. liked the show in the beginning but seems to have strayed now. turned into a bit of a soap opera.
As an avid Yellowstone fan, I think John Dutton should be in last part of show since he’s been in since beginning. Whether it be alot or some, he should be included
Tell Paramount Sheridan or 101 or Paramount or whoever’s at fault.They ruined one of the best shows ever beyond TV.They stomped it prematurely because they’re all a bunch of damn cry babies.
Kevin Costner will be terribly missed. I had been looking forward to the second half of season 5 with baited breath. Not as much now that Mr. Costner will not be appearing in It. I am so very disappointed that things turned out this way.
Well .I do believe he was willing to do his share ..but it also take 2 side to get thing done .I don’t believe he would off left his fans in the lurch. I wanted kevin to finish of the movie. .
This seems to be the way big companies do things everywhere and everyday. So sad that Communication doesn’t exist anymore and furthermore, be at their mercy. Been there done that.
I think Costner should be on Yellowstone.
I believe Kevin Costner about all the delays and the time that it took to try and get back shooting Yellowstone. I also believe that Taylor Sheraton had spread himself to thin trying to write all the shows he has been working on, so maybe he is less than attentive to each character in his many other shows and indifferent towards his actors.
I love his different stories but all people have other commitments and should be allowed to make adjustments so that all can be considered important. Hey even in our real jobs and life situations we all must make concessions and even say I’m sorry for all that has happened and truly mean it .