Yellowstone is inching nearer to its triumphant return on TV in November, however finally there’s concrete information about Kevin Costner‘s future with the present.
The 69-year-old actor on Thursday, as soon as and for all, put to relaxation whether or not or not he is returning to the hit Paramount Community sequence when he posted an Instagram video and shared he’ll not reprise his position as John Dutton III. Costner made the declaration amid his press tour for his newest challenge, his Western epic, Horizon: An American Saga.
“I simply needed to succeed in out and allow you to know that, after this lengthy year-and-a-half of engaged on Horizon, and doing all of the issues that that is required, and fascinated with Yellowstone — that beloved sequence that I like, that I do know you’re keen on — I simply realized that I’m not going to have the ability to proceed season 5B, or into the long run,” Costner shared within the video.
Talking about his time on the hit sequence, the two-time Oscar winner mentioned it “was one thing that actually modified me.”
“I beloved it, and I do know you really liked it. And I simply needed to let you already know that I will not be returning,” he continued. “I like the connection we have been capable of develop, and I will see you on the films.”
In response to Costner’s video, a spokesperson for Paramount Community mentioned, “Kevin has been an enormous a part of Yellowstone’s success. Whereas we had hoped that we’d proceed working with him, sadly, we couldn’t discover a window that labored for him, all the opposite expertise and our manufacturing wants as a way to transfer ahead collectively. We respect that Kevin has prioritized his new movie sequence and we want him the very best.”
The information got here not lengthy after Paramount Community introduced that Yellowstone will return on Nov. 10 at 8 p.m. ET/PT. The hit sequence resumed manufacturing on the ultimate six episodes. Whereas manufacturing on the ultimate episodes was delayed because of the WGA and SAG-AFTRA strikes — with Paramount asserting in Might 2024 that filming had lastly begun — the drama surrounding Costner’s future on Yellowstone had dragged on till not too long ago.
Created by Taylor Sheridan, Yellowstone chronicles the Dutton household, led by Costner’s patriarch John Dutton III, who controls the biggest contiguous cattle ranch in the USA. Amid shifting alliances, unsolved murders, open wounds, and hard-earned respect — the ranch is in fixed battle with these it borders — an increasing city, an Indian reservation and America’s first nationwide park. Different solid members embody Luke Grimes, Kelly Reilly, Wes Bentley, Cole Hauser, Kelsey Asbille and Brecken Merrill.
With Yellowstone nearing the tip of the street (with spinoffs and offshoots on the docket) and Costner’s involvement with the franchise now found out, this is the whole timeline on all the things we all know concerning the sequence, Costner’s exit and what we will anticipate transferring ahead.
June 2022: Costner addresses when he’ll grasp up his Yellowstone hat
Costner mentioned in an interview with ET in June 2022, whereas selling Paramount+’s U.Okay. launch, that whereas he did not foresee hanging up his cowboy hat anytime quickly, he would not be against saying goodbye to John Dutton, the character he is performed since Yellowstone‘s 2018 premiere if he did not discover the present narratively “attention-grabbing” anymore.
“I will go until it would not really feel like we’re attention-grabbing, and proper now now we have our foot on the gasoline and that feels OK to me,” he mentioned on the time. “I’ve pursuits which are outdoors of all the things I do, together with the flicks, so I’ve different issues that I wish to do.”
Acknowledging he did not understand how Yellowstone ends, Costner even joked, “I’m going to finish [it] if it would not finish.”
July 2022: Costner is presumably the highest-paid actor on TV
A Selection report tapped Costner as one of many highest-paid TV stars, reportedly incomes effectively over $1 million per episode for Yellowstone.
“First off, Yellowstone is an amazing hit. It is one of many greatest reveals on tv proper now and Kevin Costner is, in fact, the main power behind that present,” Selection TV Editor Michael Schneider mentioned on the time. “He is a film star, he is now a TV star, he is been round for a very long time, he is the form of person who fetches a fairly penny when working, so once you wish to get a star like Kevin Costner, you’ve obtained to open up the pocketbook from the start.”
November 2022: Hypothesis swirls that Yellowstone could possibly be ending
Followers started speculating when the Paramount Community drama’s supersized fifth season — consisting of 14 episodes as a substitute of the everyday 9 or 10, to be damaged up into two components — could possibly be approaching the tip. Solid members all had various views on the matter as they expressed their ideas on the time.
“, they have not given us a quantity. However I believe that we’re nearing the tip,” Kelsey Asbille mentioned on the season 5 premiere in New York Metropolis in November 2022. “We have got a narrative to inform and we do not wish to drag it on too lengthy. We wish to do a superb job for y’all.” In the meantime, Cole Hauser and Wes Bentley each believed there was much more Dutton to go round. “I do not suppose something’s ending quickly. It would not really feel like that… Additionally simply to know that we’re taking our time to get by means of the story and ensure we inform it in one of the best ways potential is necessary. I believe extra necessary than kicking them out quick or any of that,” Bentley mentioned.
Co-star Luke Grimes, nonetheless, was much less sure over whether or not season 5 was the tip. “I do not know, truthfully. Taylor hasn’t mentioned something, however I do know that he will not take it previous the place it is alleged to go,” he mentioned. “Generally reveals that get to this stage, they’ll go on and on and on. However he will not have our present try this. So we’ll see. We’ll see the place it goes.”
Jan. 1, 2023: Paramount Community declares Yellowstone return date
Throughout the season 5 midseason finale on New Yr’s Day, Paramount Community ran a 30-second spot touting a summer time return for the rest of the season.
That return date would later be pushed again.
Jan. 10, 2023: Costner misses the Golden Globes amid win for Yellowstone
The actor missed the Golden Globe Awards the place he was nominated and gained Greatest Actor in a Tv Collection — Drama for his position as John Dutton on Yellowstone, as a consequence of intensive California flooding that blocked him and his spouse, Christine, from making the drive down from Santa Barbara.
“Hello, everybody. Look, I am so sorry for everybody who may need been tuning in to look at the Golden Globes. Chris and I aren’t going to be there,” Costner mentioned in a video previous to the awards present. “Yesterday we needed to pull the youngsters out of faculty in Santa Barbara. That is the second time in 5 years that the freeway has flooded out, we discovered ourselves on the fallacious facet of the city and we could not get again final evening.”
Feb. 6, 2023: Yellowstone coming to an early finish?
About one month after the season 5 midseason finale aired, a number of experiences surfaced alleging that Yellowstone could also be coming to an early finish in its present state. The revelations got here amid a Deadline report alleging there have been disagreements over Costner’s filming schedule. In response to the report, Costner allegedly requested one week of taking pictures to finish the remaining eight episodes within the again half of season 5. His request was allegedly denied by Paramount Community.
Costner’s lawyer, Marty Singer, responded to rumors concerning the actor’s alleged need to shorten his work hours, issuing the next assertion to ET: “The concept that Kevin was solely prepared to work one week on the second half of season 5 of Yellowstone is an absolute lie. It is ridiculous — and anybody suggesting it should not be believed for one second. As everybody who is aware of something about Kevin is effectively conscious, he’s extremely passionate concerning the present and has at all times gone means above and past to make sure its success.”
Hypothesis that Yellowstone is doubtlessly ending early got here as a little bit of a shock following Hauser’s latest remarks about the way forward for the franchise. The actor advised ET in January on the Golden Globes that there could be a minimum of two extra seasons. “I can inform you there shall be [season] 6 and [there] shall be a seventh, that is all I can say,” Hauser advised ET on the time. “That is all I can inform you.”
Throughout that very same Deadline report, it was revealed Matthew McConaughey was in discussions to star in a possible new Yellowstone sequence.
February 2023: Rising tensions
Matthew Belloni, founding companion of Puck Information and the primary to report on the on-set challenges and disagreements which have reportedly plagued the present throughout its fifth season, famous the drama is rooted in a number of potential components, together with scheduling disagreements, pay disputes and private friction between totally different key gamers.
“Kevin Costner is famously headstrong and he has been at odds with Taylor Sheridan, the creator of this present, for months now over the times that he is gonna be taking pictures for the following a part of the season,” Belloni mentioned in February. He mentioned some felt Costner has “a reasonably large ego” and that this doubtless “got here to the forefront on Yellowstone, particularly not too long ago, as has a ardour challenge that he is needed to do for a very long time — to direct this film known as Horizon, which is a Western that he is directing and starring in.”
“He actually needed to place that in entrance of Yellowstone, and the producers of Yellowstone mentioned, ‘Hey, the present is your first precedence, we’re paying you some huge cash to do that present.’ And Kevin simply was very headstrong and needed his means,” Belloni mentioned. “This was a combat that has been taking part in out for the previous few months now behind the scenes.”
April 1, 2023: Matthew McConaughey sequence transferring ahead no matter Costner’s future
Amid mounting uncertainty across the destiny of Yellowstone, Paramount boss Chris McCarthy planted the flag in an interview with The Hollywood Reporter that the McConaughey sequence, which is being billed as an extension of the franchise, would transfer ahead it doesn’t matter what Costner’s destiny on Yellowstone ended up being.
April 1, 2023: Important Yellowstone solid skip occasion amid drama
Important Yellowstone solid and creatives, together with Costner and Sheridan, have been on the invoice to seem at a PaleyFest occasion in Los Angeles, however as a substitute, followers have been left disenchanted when the bulk didn’t present up. Solely Moses Brings A lot, Daybreak Olivieri, Josh Lucas and Wendy Moniz have been in attendance, together with Keith Cox, President of Growth and Manufacturing at Paramount Community, who took half within the onstage dialogue.
The absence of Costner, Sheridan and government producer David Glasser, together with solid members Kelly Reilly, Cole Hauser, Luke Grimes, Kelsey Asbille, Wes Bentley, Gil Birmingham and Jacki Weaver was mentioned to be as a consequence of “scheduling conflicts.”
Cox addressed Costner’s future on Yellowstone, telling the group, “What I can say is our star, the face of our present and the chief producer, [we] are very assured he’s going to proceed with our present.”
Might 1, 2023: Costner’s spouse recordsdata for divorce
Costner’s spouse, Christine, filed for divorce on Might 1 in Santa Barbara, California, citing irreconcilable variations after 18 years of marriage. She listed the date of separation as April 11, 2023. They share three kids collectively: Cayden, 15, Hayes, 14 and Grace, 12.
“It’s with nice disappointment that circumstances past his management have transpired which have resulted in Mr. Costner having to take part in a dissolution of marriage motion,” a rep for Costner confirmed to ET. “We ask that his, Christine’s and their kids’s privateness be revered as they navigate this tough time,” the assertion concluded.
In response to new court docket paperwork obtained by ET in June 2023, Christine maintained she was not the driving power behind Costner’s resolution to go away Yellowstone. “I’ve prevented being public concerning the causes for our divorce,” Christine mentioned within the court docket docs. “I’ve achieved this to guard our household’s privateness. I didn’t strain Kevin to go away the Yellowstone present. Kevin’s public assaults on me are dangerous for our household. I imagine they’re meant to strain me to maneuver out with no short-term youngster help settlement in place.”
Might 3, 2023: Costner formally not returning after season 5
Sources near manufacturing advised ET that Costner wouldn’t be returning to Yellowstone after the tip of season 5. The information got here after experiences of alleged drama between the star of the Paramount Community sequence and Sheridan over the actor’s filming commitments to the remaining episodes of the season.
Extra sources additionally advised ET there was no replace on when manufacturing was to renew in Montana, the place the sequence is filmed on location, to complete season 5.
Might 5, 2023: The tip of Yellowstone is made official
Days after ET reported Costner would not be returning to Yellowstone after the season, Paramount Community made it official: The sequence was ending in its present kind with a tentative return date of November. Filming, nonetheless, has not commenced on the ultimate episodes but. And whereas Yellowstone shall be hanging up its hat, an untitled sequel sequence from Sheridan was set to debut by December on Paramount Community, adopted by a run on Paramount+.
“The Dutton story continues, selecting up the place Yellowstone leaves off in one other epic story,” David Glasser, CEO of 101 Studios and government producer of Yellowstone, mentioned within the announcement. “We’re thrilled to carry this new journey to audiences all over the world.”
Whereas no solid was confirmed, the sequel sequence is believed to be led by McConaughey, who McCarthy beforehand revealed is ready to star in a Yellowstone extension. Nonetheless, no different particulars about that sequence have been introduced.
Might 9, 2023: Costner desires a say on how he is written off
In response to a report by Puck Information, Costner — who’s embroiled in divorce proceedings along with his estranged spouse, Christine — allegedly desires to really feel “snug with how his John Dutton character is written out of the franchise” and that he “desires to forestall what Shonda Rhimes did to Patrick Dempsey, killing off the race car-driving Gray’s Anatomy star in an F-you automobile accident.”
Sheridan responded in a June interview with The Hollywood Reporter that he would not do “f**k-you automobile crashes.” “Whether or not [Dutton’s fate] inflates [Costner’s] ego or insults is collateral harm that I do not think about with regard to storytelling,” the creator addressed.
June 21, 2023: Sheridan breaks his silence on Costner drama, plus potential delay?
In a canopy story for The Hollywood Reporter, Sheridan shared his emotions about Costner leaving the favored sequence, acknowledging his disappointment over the actor’s resolution to half methods.
“My opinion of Kevin as an actor hasn’t altered,” Sheridan mentioned. “His creation of John Dutton is symbolic and highly effective… and I’ve by no means had a problem with Kevin that he and I could not work out on the telephone. However as soon as legal professionals get entangled, then individuals do not get to speak to one another and begin saying issues that are not true and try to shift blame based mostly on how the press or public appear to be reacting. He took a variety of this on the chin and I do not know that anybody deserves it. His film appears to be an incredible precedence to him and he desires to shift focus. I positive hope [the movie is] value it — and that it is a good one.”
“I am disenchanted,” Sheridan continued. “It truncates the closure of his character. It would not alter it, but it surely truncates it.”
THR‘s Editor at Massive James Hibberd spoke to ET after Sheridan’s profile was printed, and shared two sticking factors that proved to be the deciding think about Costner’s exit.
“Within the story, my sources give two factors of view about Costner leaving, one viewpoint is that Costner stored ready for scripts and obtained pissed off that the showrunner, Taylor Sheridan, stored being so centered on his different reveals,” Hibberd advised ET. “One other viewpoint is that Costner obtained his four-movie deal to make his longtime ardour challenge and simply more and more blew off the present.”
It is also wanting more and more doubtless that Yellowstone will not return for its remaining episodes till 2024 amid the continuing writers’ strike as a result of scripts have not been accomplished. Sheridan appeared to recommend within the interview that the second half of season 5 could possibly be greater than six episodes: “If I believe it takes 10 episodes to wrap it up, they’re going to give me 10. It will be so long as it must be.”
“[Yellowstone] cannot be shot within the winter because of the climate,” Hibberd advised ET. “So, even when the writers’ strike ends the window to shoot the present is slender.”
September 2023: Costner speaks out
Throughout a baby help listening to, the actor addressed the circumstances of his exit from the present, reportedly saying on the stand that he modified his schedule to shoot the primary a part of season 5 amid his personal four-part film challenge, Horizon: An American Saga. Whereas he mentioned he needed to return for the sixth season, he “couldn’t assist them any extra.” In response to Costner, making Horizon was a battle with filming Yellowstone two occasions a 12 months.
“We tried to barter, they supplied me much less cash than earlier seasons, there have been points with the artistic,” he claimed, alleging a script for the second a part of season 5 had not been written. Costner additional alleged that he tried to return to the present and advised his reps to “have them pay me no matter quantity, we got here up with a quantity, they usually [Yellowstone] walked away.”
At that very same listening to, Costner’s lawyer revealed the actor has not but reached an exit settlement.
January 2024: Closing episodes premiere date set
After delays because of the SAG-AFTRA and WGA strikes, it was introduced that the second half of Yellowstone‘s fifth and remaining season — set to be comprised of six episodes — will debut on Nov. 10, 2024.
April 2024: Costner says he “hopes” he is capable of return for remaining episodes
At CinemaCon 2024, the place the actor and director was selling his years-long ardour challenge, Horizon: An American Saga, Costner advised ET that he would “love” to return for Yellowstone‘s remaining episodes — if he was snug with how his ending was written. Finally, he left the ball in Sheridan’s court docket.
“I might like to have the ability to do it however we have not been capable of,” Costner mentioned. “I believed I used to be going to make seven [seasons] however proper now we’re at 5. So the way it works out — I hope it does — however they have a variety of totally different reveals occurring. Perhaps it should. Perhaps it will circle again to me. If it does and I really feel actually snug with [it], I might like to do it.”
And, sure, Costner says he is thought of how John Dutton’s story wraps up on Yellowstone.
“Effectively, you already know, he must be proactive in what occurs and I’ve form of had my very own fantasy the way it is likely to be,” Costner mentioned, “however that is Taylor’s factor. I mentioned as a lot to him some time again. I had ideas the way it may occur, however we simply should see.”
Might 2024: Costner says he “took a beating” amid Yellowstone drama
Costner’s most candid interview concerning the behind-the-scenes drama was maybe his Might 2024 sit-down with Deadline, the place he slammed the rumors that he prioritized Horizon over Yellowstone, saying that narrative “wasn’t truthful.”
“I don’t wish to get down within the gutter with the Yellowstone factor however what I’m telling you is straight up. I’ve taken a beating from these f**king guys and I do know a variety of occasions the place it’s coming from,” Costner mentioned. “I simply elected to not get into that. But when you already know me effectively sufficient, I made Yellowstone the primary precedence, and to insinuate the rest could be fallacious.”
Costner added that he would not know “why they do not stick up for me.” He claims that he gave the Yellowstone workforce 25 days for season 5, half B, practically the entire month of March 2023, however that “there was no script.”
Costner famous that he was prepared to provide the Yellowstone workforce a further week to kill off his character or give John Dutton a satisfying ending, however claimed that it then obtained spun that he solely needed to work for every week.
“Do you suppose that is who I’m? I’ve by no means missed a day of labor,” Costner insisted. “I’ve by no means left earlier than fulfilling my contractual obligations. A number of occasions, I keep as a lot as I can.”
Finally, Costner repeated himself a few potential return, saying, “If the writing is there, I shall be there too.”
Might 20, 2024: Manufacturing begins on remaining episodes
A number of days after sequence actor Forrie J. Smith revealed on Instagram that he was again in Montana to start filming, Paramount Community shared that manufacturing had formally begun on the ultimate episodes of the drama’s fifth and remaining season.
Within the press launch, Costner was nonetheless listed as an government producer on the sequence.
June 3, 2024: Why Costner signed on for ‘cleaning soap opera’ Yellowstone
Chatting with Dax Shepard and Monica Padman on their Armchair Professional podcast, Costner recalled his authentic plan for acting on the now-hit Western drama sequence, saying he initially agreed to do three seasons earlier than the present was even made. As he described to Shepard and Padman, Costner was despatched to promote the present to consumers in Europe. Whereas there, he was requested if he was going to be in upwards of seven seasons.
Costner reiterated he had agreed to do three seasons, although he thought it was simply going to be one lengthy season. Because the story goes, he ended up showing in all 5 seasons.
Regardless of the newer drama over his continuation within the present, Costner praised the challenge. “I simply believed on the earth. I knew it was a cleaning soap opera. I knew we must always all be in jail. We have all killed individuals there and so that you throw logic out the window, proper, a bit of bit,” he mentioned.
June 20, 2024: Yellowstone returns Nov. 10
In the end, Paramount Community introduced that the extremely anticipated second half of season 5 is set to premiere Sunday, Nov. 10 at 8 p.m. ET/PT. Internationally, Paramount’s No. 1 present will premiere on Paramount+ in Canada on Nov. 10, the U.Okay. on Nov. 11 and in Latin America, Brazil and France later in November.
June 20, 2024: Costner and Sheridan have talked
Since Costner had mentioned he was open to return to Yellowstone, many puzzled if he and Sheridan had spoken about his potential return. The brief reply? Sure.
Costner appeared on SiriusXM’s The Highlight with Jessica Shaw and shared that they’d in reality had discussions.
“Taylor and I’ve talked about what it might take to do it, and I believe we’re simply attempting to resolve if that might ever be that means,” he mentioned. “I’ve mentioned precisely what I felt that there isn’t any … that is often what I do. That is precisely how I really feel, so I will inform somebody.”
June 20, 2024: Costner makes it official
Not lengthy after that interview on SiriusXM, Costner took to Instagram and shared in a video that he is not going to reprise his position as John Dutton III on Yellowstone.
“I simply needed to succeed in out and allow you to know that, after this lengthy year-and-a-half of engaged on Horizon, and doing all of the issues that that is required, and fascinated with Yellowstone — that beloved sequence that I like, that I do know you’re keen on — I simply realized that I’m not going to have the ability to proceed season 5B, or into the long run,” Costner shared within the video.
Talking about his time on the hit sequence, the two-time Oscar winner mentioned it “was one thing that actually modified me.”
“I beloved it, and I do know you really liked it. And I simply needed to let you already know that I will not be returning,” he continued. “I like the connection we have been capable of develop, and I will see you on the films.”
For extra on the newest on the continuing Yellowstone drama, watch under.
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