TV’s biggest show has officially lost its biggest star. Sunday night saw the return of the fifth season of “Yellowstone,” nearly two years after the current season premiered. And this time it’s back without Kevin Costner.
Ever since rumors began circulating about Costner possibly leaving Yellowstone, there has been speculation in the media about a rivalry between the A-list star and series creator Taylor Sheridan. The truth, as is often the case, is a little more boring than anything that happens on the Dutton Ranch.
That’s why Kevin Costner left the beloved Paramount Network show.
Why did Kevin Costner leave Yellowstone?
For Costner, it was simply a matter of professional desires and programming techniques. During a profile for GQ, Costner praised the show and revealed that he renegotiated his original three-season contract with Yellowstone to stay with the show for up to seven seasons. However, due to COVID-19, WGA and SAG-AFTRA strikes, and various other scheduling disputes, production has been repeatedly delayed, resulting in a now two-year gap between the start of season five and the second half of this season.
“We rarely started when we said we would, and we rarely finished when we said we would,” Costner said in the article. “And I was fine with that. I was really. I was fine with that, but it wasn’t a direction that could continue for me.
The main reason why it didn’t work out for him was Horizon, a western he directed, co-wrote, co-produced, and starred in with Costner. Since Costner was already under contract to helm this long-dreamed-of project, he could no longer afford any production delays on behalf of Yellowstone. The actor also emphasized that “Horizon: An American Saga” was never created to compete with “Yellowstone,” but rather as a kind of complementary movie to the western genre.
Costner was even more forceful about his decision in an interview with additional reporter Billy Bush. He said before this final batch of episodes: “It’s time to move forward as gracefully as possible with something that’s been so important to you.” Costner went on to say that for five years, Yellowstone was something he enjoyed, helped sell, and “I helped create it, not from a creative standpoint, but by giving it a certain amount of weight, whatever you want to call it.” “. “
“I was proud of that and what I was able to do. Costner concluded: “It’s time to get to work.”
Is John Dutton really dead?
Yes, he certainly is. We have already analyzed the death in detail.
There’s not much wiggle room if Costner changes his mind and wants to return to Yellowstone. But between Tulsa King, Liones, and flashbacks, there are plenty of other Taylor Sheridan projects he could be involved in if he really wanted to.
What’s going on with Horizon?
“Horizon: An American Saga – Chapter 1” was released in theaters last June, but the box office was disappointing: It grossed $38 million against a $50 million budget. As a result, “Chapter 2,” which had already been filmed, was pulled from the release schedule to give people a chance to see “Chapter 1” when it began airing on Max.
Filming of “Chapter 3” began but was not completed, and production on “Chapter 4,” the planned conclusion to Costner’s film series, did not begin.