In a recent interview, Kevin Costner opened up about his departure from Taylor Sheridan’s popular series Yellowstone and shed light on the behind-the-scenes drama surrounding the show.
During his promotion for the highly anticipated Western film, Horizon: An American Saga, Costner addressed the speculation surrounding his sudden departure from Yellowstone. He clarified any rumors of conflicts with Taylor Sheridan and Horizon-related conflicts.
In his interview with Deadline, Costner shared a revelation that debunked a common belief. He clarified that despite what people may think, he did not give priority to Horizon over Yellowstone. On the contrary, the actor explained that he prioritized the Taylor Sheridan show and put it in first place. However, due to the Yellowstone production’s inability to stick to a schedule and produce finalized scripts, Costner ultimately made the decision to walk away.
“In light of the way they’ve discussed it, I haven’t been feeling positive about it in the past year,”Costner expressed regarding the situation. “Their narrative wasn’t honest. That’s why I’m now sharing a bit about the actual truth behind it.”
Costner’s Dedication to Yellowstone Over the Horizon
According to Costner, the actor had initially signed a contract for Seasons 5, 6, and 7. However, after approximately two or three months of negotiations, a new contract was drawn up. The main difference was that instead of producing separate Seasons 6 and 7, the fifth season was divided into two parts, known as ‘5A’ and ‘5B’. This was officially referred to as Yellowstone Season 5 Part 2, which served as the final season.
“Although Horizon was placed in the middle, Costner claims that Yellowstone was given first priority. He explains that he had to adjust the schedule for Horizon to fit into the available time slots, as the production team continuously changed their plans.”
In addition, he stated, “I gave top priority to Yellowstone and it would be incorrect to suggest otherwise. I did not initiate any of those actions. They were the ones who took the lead and were putting a lot of pressure on this poor guy [Taylor Sheridan] to write so much. I am unsure why they did not defend me.”
Kevin Costner Made Himself Available for Yellowstone
Despite rumors that Costner’s commitment to filming chunks of Yellowstone was hindered by Horizon’s schedule, he adamantly denied these claims.
“He confirmed that the statement was false, stating that there were periods of time where they were unable to complete 10 episodes. Typically, they would start in April and go through August, but during that time they were not able to reach the goal of 10 episodes. He clarified that he had only worked 43 days, making the previous statement incorrect and untrue.”
According to Costner, he fulfilled all of his contracted obligations and “lived up to”them. He also shares that he dedicated 25 days of his time to the production of Yellowstone 5B in November and December, although those days ultimately went unused due to incomplete scripts.
According to him, that was when everything changed. Upon leaving the Horizon project to focus on Yellowstone 5B, there were no scripts and they needed more time to finish the first eight episodes. Although they were unable to meet the script deadline, Costner generously allowed for more time in order to ensure a graceful ending. However, despite his efforts, the production was still not ready, and he was scheduled to start work on Horizon on August 1st.
According to Costner, the additional three shows also contributed to the issue. He likely meant the Yellowstone spinoffs 1923 Season 2, 6666, and Yellowstone 1944. After experiencing constant delays and uncertainty for about 14 months, Costner remembers telling the team, “I cannot go through that again, where production is halted for over a year and I am left without any other work lined up.”
“According to him, his actions were purely for self-protection and not to prioritize himself over Yellowstone. He simply filled any necessary gaps.”
Costner would be open to returning
In spite of everything, Costner affirms that he would consider returning to the character of John Dutton, if the conditions were suitable.
“I am still open to the possibility of returning,”he says. “If they are preoccupied with other projects, perhaps we can revisit this in the future and have two amazing seasons. Alternatively, if the writing meets my expectations and I am satisfied with the outcome, I am open to ending it. However, I did face backlash for the lack of support from my colleagues, and I am disappointed that false rumors were allowed to spread.”
“While I may not be pleased with the situation, I am committed to being there if the writing is up to par. It may have seemed like they had first dibs, but my decision not to do Horizon was not because I was burnt out on Yellowstone. That is simply not true. The truth is, I have been considering this project for a while now.”
To find out more, be sure to check out our comprehensive guide on the top Yellowstone episodes, the complete cast of Yellowstone, and the soundtrack for the show.
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