Kevin Costner Finally Speaks On Yellowstone Controversy And Isn’t Holding Back
Since November 2022, fans have been curious about Kevin Costner’s future with the Yellowstone franchise. Rumors have continued to circulate for over a year regarding the A-lister’s behind-the-scenes behavior, with some maligning the actor as being too focused on his other projects to fully commit to seasons 5B and beyond. Now, after over a year of silence regarding the matter, Costner has sat down with Deadline, to personally set the record straight and explain the story from his own perspective.
I made a contract for Seasons 5, 6, and 7. In February [2022], after a two- or three-month negotiation, they made another contract. They wanted to redo that one, and instead of Seasons 6 and 7, it was 5A and 5B, and maybe we’ll do 6. They weren’t able to make those. ‘Horizon’ was set in the middle, but ‘Yellowstone’ was first position. I fit [‘Horizon’] into the gaps. They just kept moving their gaps.”
Kevin Costner
Paramount Kept Messing With Scheduled And Contracts
During his interview, Kevin Costner argued that the team behind Yellowstone made numerous scheduling and contract changes, failed to provide adequate shoot dates, and ultimately fumbled what could have been a smooth transition between seasons of the hit Paramount Network original. Specifically, Costner argues, “Paramount and 101 Studios mismanaged this… I took a beating over these guys not speaking up for me and allowing crazy stories to come out.”
Don’t Blame Costner
Much of the blame regarding the prolonged wait between seasons 5A and 5B has been hoisted on Kevin Costner, with some reports claiming the Hidden Figures actor would only agree to shoot the forthcoming Yellowstone season for a single week. Costner is currently deep into the weeds on his long-awaited Western opus Horizon: An American Saga, which has ballooned into a trilogy of films due to its massive scope, so surely nobody could blame him if his schedule doesn’t permit for juggling multiple projects. Still, Costner claims this couldn’t be further from the truth.
Kevin Costner Was Willing To Go On
In his interview, Kevin Costner explains that he had initially signed on for a three-season contract extension with Yellowstone, and had planned to squeeze his working schedule for Horizon into his time off in between seasons. Then, the producers at Paramount and 101 Studios shifted their schedule, choosing to split season 5 into halves, and renegotiate their contract. Costner still agreed to play ball despite the disruption, but when he showed up to shoot season 5B, he claims the scripts weren’t even written and ready to shoot.
Clearing Up The Controversial Rumor
Costner explained in his interview “I left my movie to be on time for them for 5B… It turns out they didn’t have the scripts for 5B. They needed four more days just to complete the first eight episodes [of 5A].” He then went on to explain the origin of the rumor that he refused to shoot for more than a week. Kevin Costner told his Yellowstone bosses, “look, I’m doing my movie. If you want me to work a week because you want to kill me or whatever else, I can give you a week.”
Upset Paramount Wouldn’t Set The Record Straight
So Kevin Costner did technically offer a week of his time to the production of Yellowstone season 5B, only after months of delaying his own projects to accommodate the shifting scheduling needs of the studio. Costner then took offense when the rumors began to spread like wildfire, questioning why the studio with whom he previously held in such high regard would refuse to speak up on his behalf. As the leading man throughout most of Yellowstone, Costner felt he was entitled to more loyalty and respect from the production side, especially after offering them so much flexibility in his schedule for over a year and a half.
Still, Kevin Costner Is Open To Return
Despite all the negativity and frustration, Kevin Costner experienced with Paramount, the actor claims he would still be willing to return to the Yellowstone Dutton ranch as long as the studio manages to get its ducks back in a row. Beyond that, fans shouldn’t expect to see much of the Dutton family patriarch tipping his cowboy hat to his constituents.
Source: Deadline
