Kevin Coster Finally Gives Statement On “Yellowstone” Fate

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According to Variety, the final episodes of Yellowstone will begin filming towards the end of Spring. The first part of Season Five already aired, while the second half of the season was delayed due to alleged negotiations with Coster, followed by the writer’s strike and then the SAG-AFTRA strike.

Yellowstone / Facebook

Kevin’s drama with Yellowstone took place at the same time as he went through his divorce.

In the Spring of 2023, rumors began swirling about Costner delaying production, and him trying to negotiate his salary. On April 19, there was a report that his character, John Dutton, would be killed off in Season 5. 

On May 2, 2023, Christine Baumgartner filed for divorce after 18 years of marriage, citing “irreconcilable differences.” Two days later, it was reported that Season 5 of Yellowstone would be his last.

The negotiations with Costner were about his availability to shoot Season 5 because he was getting ready to shoot his four-part film series, Horizon, which he wrote, starred in, and directed.

On May 5, Paramount announced that Yellowstone would end after Season 5, shocking fans, seeing as Sheridan had done interviews saying he saw it going until Season 7. With Costner officially gone for the second part of Season 5, Sheridan had to get creative on moving forward without the show’s star.

Kevin Costner as John Dutton in "Yellowstone" Season 5
Yellowstone / Facebook

“I’m disappointed,” he confessed to Hollywood Reporter in June 2023, “It truncates the closure of his character. It doesn’t alter it, but it truncates it.”

During his divorce proceedings, his salary for Yellowstone was a big point of contention because his estranged wife claimed he made more than he did, and he let his contract run out so he wouldn’t have to include that salary in his earnings.

In the proceedings, Costner revealed that scheduling conflicts led to his Yellowstone departure. The actor said he “changed” his Horizon schedule to film the first half of Season 5, adding, “That’s a big deal in this world.” Costner also claimed there were “no scripts written” for the second half of Season 5.

He has finally commented on Yellowstone.

What did Kevin Costner say about his fate in Yellowstone?

While promoting Horizon at CinemaCon in Las Vegas, Nevada, Costner was asked about Yellowstone‘s upcoming final episodes, and if he’d like to be involved.

Costner told Entertainment Tonight, “I’d like to be able to do it but we haven’t been able to … I’ve loved making that series. I thought I was going to make seven [seasons] but right now we’re at five. So how it works out — I hope it does — but they’ve got a lot of different shows going on. Maybe, maybe this will circle back to me. If it does and I feel really comfortable with [it], I’d love to do it.”

The Academy Award-winning director reveals he has put some thought into how his character’s story ends.

“Well, you know, he needs to be proactive in what happens and I’ve kind of had my own fantasy how it might be…but that’s Taylor’s thing. I said as much to him a while back. I had thoughts how it could happen, but we just have to see.”

As for now, those things will have to happen off screen. What do you think of his comments? 

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About the Author

Jennifer Pernicano

Hi! I'm Jen, a Southern California-based country music fan. One of my favorite things to do is go to a country concert and experience the art of storytelling in person. There truly is nothing else like it!

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