Kevin Costner Addresses False Rumors Surrounding ‘Yellowstone’ Drama: An Honest Reflection

Kevin Costner Breaks Silence on Bullst Rumors About Yellowstone Drama I Took a Beating

Kevin Costner Alberto E. Rodriguez/Getty Images for CinemaCon

Kevin Costner has addressed the rumors surrounding the show Yellowstone, shedding light on the true story behind it. In a recent interview with Deadline, the 69-year-old actor revealed that he has faced criticism from certain individuals, but chose not to engage in negativity. Costner emphasized that Yellowstone has always been his top priority, and any insinuations otherwise are untrue. He made it clear that he did not initiate any conflicts, but rather, they were brought to him. Despite the option to remain silent during his current press tour for Horizon: An American Saga, Costner has decided to speak up and set the record straight.

Costner continued by mentioning that he will address the situation. He felt that they should have been aware that he would have the opportunity to speak up. Throughout the past year and a half, he had chosen not to respond to criticisms as he had been occupied with work. He also noted that they had been careful to avoid making any public statements.

Shifting the conversation to the Yellowstone drama, Costner expressed that he had not been feeling positive about it in the past year. He mentioned that the ongoing rumors and speculations surrounding the show were not accurate. The actor revealed that he had initially negotiated a contract for three additional seasons - season five, six, and seven. However, the plans changed, and a new contract was made, resulting in dividing season five into two parts - 5A and 5B.

Yellowstone was considered the top priority at the time, with Costner's Horizon film series filling in the gaps. He mentioned that the gaps kept shifting.

Costner dismissed rumors that he couldn't be on the Yellowstone set due to being too occupied with Horizon. He described the drama surrounding this issue as completely false, according to the Hollywood veteran.

"That's not true," he insisted when questioned about Horizon affecting his filming schedule for Yellowstone. "That's false. That's not right. They sent me to London for seven days during Covid for promotional activities. They arranged the schedule and decided the days."

Costner mentioned that there were specific periods where 10 episodes were not filmed, and he only spent "43 days" working on the show.

Reports of tension between Costner and Yellowstone cocreator Taylor Sheridan were said to have caused delays in the show's return. Season 5A concluded in January 2023, with the second part scheduled to air in the summer. However, the episodes have not been broadcast yet.

In an interview with Deadline, Costner stated that he had fulfilled the terms of his contract. He has portrayed the character of John Dutton since the premiere of Yellowstone in 2018.

Costner explained that he dedicated 25 days in November and December 2022, as well as the entire month of March 2023, to work on what was referred to as 5B. However, he clarified that he did not actually film any scenes for 5B because there were no scripts provided. This lack of scripts ultimately led to complications and caused him to leave Horizon in order to film season 5B.

He left earlier than planned because they were not prepared with the scripts for 5B which caused some inconvenience for him. They needed extra time to finish the first eight episodes, so he left to help them have a complete set of eight episodes, even though he felt sorry that the audience missed out on two episodes.

After leaving the previous project, he offered to work for a week on Yellowstone even though he was tight on time. Despite his limited availability, he agreed to dedicate a week to the show. However, this decision was later misconstrued as him only wanting to work for a week, according to Costner.

The actor expressed disbelief, asking, "Do you think that’s who I am?" He emphasized his impeccable work ethic, stating, "I’ve never missed a day of work. I’ve never left before fulfilling my contractual obligations." Despite his dedication, he shared that he went above and beyond by working extra days in July 2022 to assist with production for the show "Horizon," even working on weekends when needed.

Costner remains willing to return to Yellowstone, stating that he is "very open to coming back" to the show in the future.

I am open to participating if the writing meets my satisfaction. However, I felt let down when my colleagues did not defend me and allowed false rumors to spread. Despite this, I am willing to be a part of the project if the quality of the writing is good. They had the first opportunity, and I did not decline the Horizon project because I was tired of working on Yellowstone. It is not true that I took on Horizon to compete with Yellowstone. This project is something I have been passionate about for a long time.

The first half of Yellowstone’s fifth season concluded with John (Costner) appearing to join forces with his daughter, Beth (Kelly Reilly), in a plot to eliminate his son Jamie (Wes Bentley). Meanwhile, Jamie sought to have John removed from his position.

The second half of Yellowstone’s fifth and final season is now set to premiere in November. Horizon: Chapter 1, meanwhile, hits theaters on June 28.

Editor's P/S:

Kevin Costner's recent interview sheds light on the behind-the-scenes drama surrounding the hit show "Yellowstone." The actor has addressed rumors of conflicts and delays, emphasizing that his priority has always been the show and that he has fulfilled his contractual obligations. Costner's willingness to speak up and set the record straight demonstrates his commitment to the project and his frustration with the false narratives that have been circulating.

Despite the challenges and frustrations he has faced, Costner remains open to returning to "Yellowstone" in the future. However, he has made it clear that the writing must meet his standards. The actor's dedication to quality is evident in his work ethic and his willingness to go above and beyond for the projects he believes in. It is clear that Costner is not driven by financial gain or competition but rather by a desire to create compelling and meaningful stories.