Matthew McConaughey Yellowstone Series Reveals Kevin Costner’s Importance To The Franchise
Matthew McConaughey will star in a Yellowstone spin-off series regardless if Kevin Costner remains with the flagship show.
Matthew McConaughey is officially joining the Yellowstone universe, with or without Kevin Costner. Regardless of whether Costner stays with the flagship series, the actor will lead a spinoff. The revelation was made by Paramount boss Chris McCarthy in an interview with The Hollywood Reporter.
While he didn’t have much more to share about the upcoming project, the executive praised the franchise’s primary star.
“[Yellowstone] wouldn’t be what it is without Kevin, and we hope that that stays for a long time to come,” McCarthy told the publication. He also revealed that the Matthew McConaughey-led spinoff would be one of several Yellowstone-related projects from Taylor Sheridan, who created the original Kevin Costner show. He went on to gush about the creator’s ability to deliver high-quality programming that appeals to a broad audience.
The Matthew McConaughey news comes amid reports that Yellowstone might end due to Kevin Costner’s busy schedule. The Bodyguard star allegedly requested that the eight remaining episodes of season five be filmed in one week so he could focus on other projects. Bosses at Paramount Network denied the lofty ask.
Addressing the alleged conflict, Paramount released a statement saying there wasn’t anything to report. “Kevin Costner is a big part of the series, and we hope that’s the case for a long time to come,” a network spokesperson said at the time. The 68-year-old actor won the Best Actor Golden Globe for portraying John Dutton in Yellowstone.
A few weeks later, rumors about pay disputes and personal friction surfaced online. Some folks working on Yellowstone felt that Kevin Costner had a big ego. Along with his $1 million per episode salary, the actor wanted to focus on directing Horizon, a western he has been passionate about for a long time.
Along with the upcoming Matthew McConaughey series, Taylor Sheridan has created two other successful Yellowstone spinoffs not featuring Kevin Costner. Yellowstone 1883 featured Tim McGraw and Faith Hill as the original Duttons who settled in Wyoming after the death of their daughter. Helen Mirren and Harrison Ford lead the cast of 1923, which follows the Dutton family’s triumph over challenges in the early part of the 20th century.
Meanwhile, Matthew McConaughey made a surprise appearance at the 2023 CMT Awards. The Magic Mike actor was patched in via video call to promote a custom trophy that features his iconic line from the 1993 film Dazed and Confused. When the host hit a button at the base of the award, the words “Alright, alright, alright” were heard throughout the venue.
While his Yellowstone series is still in development, Matthew McConaughey recently lent his voice to Agent Elvis. Created by Priscilla Presley, John Eddie, and Mike Arnold, the series is billed as an adult animated sitcom. The story follows the exploits of rock’ n roll star Elvis Presley who moonlights as a secret agent for the United States government. The series was released on March 17.
Matthew McConaughey is also teaming up with Woody Harrelson for an Apple TV+ comedy from creator David West Read. Consisting of 10 episodes, the series will see the actors portray fictional versions of themselves as they attempt to live together on a Texas ranch with their families.
