In a rare public comment, “Yellowstone” creator Taylor Sheridan has addressed the exit of Kevin Costner from the renowned western drama. This insight comes years after whispers of a behind-the-scenes feud between the two prominent figures.
During a candid interview on the “Bill Simmons Podcast” this past Sunday, Sheridan revealed that the acclaimed actor was initially contracted for only three seasons of the show. The producer, now 56, recounted that the network’s apprehension over losing Costner, who is now 71, led to his extended presence on the series. “Bodyguard” star Costner, it seems, was meant to bow out much earlier according to the original vision for “Yellowstone.”
“In my mind, that’s when his youngest son takes over,” Sheridan explained, alluding to the series’ storyline. Yet the network, gripped by the fear of moving forward without the Hollywood heavyweight, managed to keep him on board. “Kevin was ready,” Sheridan continued. “He was ready to go. He had other things he wanted to do.”
Costner eventually agreed to continue his iconic role on the series for two additional seasons. Sheridan attributes this decision to the show’s “behemoth” status, a testament to its significant impact and following.
Costner continued his tenure on the series because it “was such a behemoth,” Sheridan noted.
“It was such a huge hit. The notion of giving up a hit before it had run out of juice to squeeze is very foreign to a network.”
“There was even pressure from some of the cable companies wanting to put it in their deals, that they were going to get an X-number of seasons of ‘Yellowstone’ to re-up what this cable company is. That’s the power of a really big hit show.”
But, eventually Costner decided he needed to “go do [his] own thing.”
A rep for Costner did not immediately respond to Page Six’s request for comment.
The hit western, which ran from 2018 to 2024, followed powerful Montana rancher / politician John Dutton (Costner), and his family, including Beth (Kelly Reilly), Rip (Cole Hauser), Kayce (Luke Grimes) and Jamie (Wes Bentley).
As fans may recall, Costner’s character was killed off in the series’ final season — which aired in 2024 —amid rumors of a falling out between him and Sheridan.
In 2023, the TV producer revealed he was “disappointed” by Costner’s departure as he confessed it was Costner who pushed to leave the hit drama.
“[Costner leaving] truncates the closure of his character. It doesn’t alter it, but it truncates it,” he told the Hollywood Reporter at the time.
“My last conversation with Kevin was that he had this passion project he wanted to direct,” Sheridan said. “He and the network were arguing about when he could be done with ‘Yellowstone.’ I said, ‘We can certainly work a schedule toward [his preferred exit date],’ which we did.”
“His creation of John Dutton is symbolic and powerful … and I’ve never had an issue with Kevin that he and I couldn’t work out on the phone,” Sheridan said.
He continued: “But once lawyers get involved, then people don’t get to talk to each other and start saying things that aren’t true and attempt to shift blame based on how the press or public seem to be reacting. He took a lot of this on the chin and I don’t know that anyone deserves it. His movie seems to be a great priority to him and he wants to shift focus.”
The following year, Costner came out with “Horizon: An American Saga.”
While he was no longer a part of the show, his character still earned several mentions in its spinoff “Dutton Ranch,” which premiered in May.