Kevin Costner Opens Up About His Yellowstone Exit Drama in Divorce Testimony
In a surprising turn of events, Kevin Costner has finally broken his silence regarding the controversy surrounding his departure from the hit Paramount series, Yellowstone. Reports had indicated that the actor had clashed with creator Taylor Sheridan over scheduling conflicts, leading to his decision to leave the show. While Sheridan expressed his disappointment, Costner had remained tight-lipped about the situation – until now.
During his divorce case testimony on September 1st, Costner addressed the Yellowstone debacle, shedding some light on the complicated circumstances that led to his exit. He revealed that he had indeed negotiated to return for three more seasons but encountered issues related to creative differences. In an attempt to resolve the logjam, Costner said he tried to find a solution, but unfortunately, the discussions fell apart, and they walked away. He even hinted at the possibility that he might take the matter to court.
One of the main reasons behind Costner’s scheduling conflicts was his passion project, Horizon: An American West. This personal endeavor, which he has been developing for 35 years, posed challenges when it came to aligning it with his commitments to Yellowstone. Sheridan had previously mentioned that Costner’s desire to direct his passion project created a scheduling dilemma, which they had attempted to work around by adjusting the filming schedule to accommodate his preferred exit date.
Reports surfaced in February suggesting that Costner only wanted to dedicate one week to shooting his scenes for the second batch of episodes in Yellowstone’s fifth season. However, his attorney denied these claims, labeling them as an outright lie. Regardless, Costner still has half of the fifth season left to shoot, and it will now serve as a somewhat truncated conclusion to the Dutton family saga.
Yellowstone, a popular series centered around a Montana landowner named John Dutton (played by Costner) and his tumultuous family, will be concluding with its fifth and final season airing in November. The show’s impending end has left fans eager to see how the narrative will wrap up, especially given the circumstances surrounding Costner’s departure.
Beyond the behind-the-scenes drama, Yellowstone has also faced criticism from Native American actor Lily Gladstone, who recently appeared in Martin Scorsese’s film Killers of the Flower Moon. She described the show as deplorable and delusional. Despite this backlash, Yellowstone has amassed a significant following and has been well-received by viewers.
As Kevin Costner’s divorce case unfolds, it remains to be seen how the Yellowstone situation will be resolved and what the future holds for the actor and the iconic series. Meanwhile, fans eagerly anticipate the fifth season’s premiere, hoping to witness a fitting conclusion to the captivating Dutton family saga.
