Taylor Sheridan Sets Record Straight About Kevin Costner ‘Yellowstone’ Feud
Yellowstone fans have been waiting for the final six episodes of Season 5. Since February, the reports from the Paramount camp are that Kevin Costner was not available for more than a week due to filming his dream project, Horizon.
However, on Wednesday, Taylor Sheridan talked about the alleged feud with the Field of Dreams star. Have they been fighting all five seasons? The Lioness co-creator shares why this story has become out of hand.
There have also been rumors about Sheridan killing Costner’s character, John Dutton, in a Succession-like way. What won’t Sheridan do to the Dutton patriarch in the final episodes?
Taylor Sheridan is ready to set the record straight about Kevin Costner.
Yellowstone Creator Taylor Sheridan Sets Record Straight About Kevin Costner
According to an interview with The Hollywood Reporter, Yellowstone creator Taylor Sheridan set the record straight about Kevin Costner. Firstly, he picked the Dances With Wolves star as the lead to his hit series because he was a “Robert Redford-type.”
Next, Sheridan explained the discussion around Kevin’s Horizon filming schedule and the final Yellowstone episodes. “My last conversation with Kevin was that he had this passion project he wanted to direct.”
Sheridan explained that the network and Costner did not agree on the timing schedule. As for Sheridan, he was more accommodating and recalled what he told the network. “We can certainly work a schedule toward [Kevin’s preferred exit date], which we did.”
As for the hoopla around the headline-making feud, Sheridan blames “lawyers and reps.” He explained how this situation became out of control with the blame shifted “based on how the press or the public seem to be reacting.”
He then pointed out that the Bull Durham star “took a lot of this on the chin and I don’t know that anyone deserves it.”
Then he added, “His movie seems to be a great priority to him and he wants to shift focus. I sure hope [the movie is]worth it–and that it’s a good one.”
There is no indication that Sheridan was being sarcastic about Costner’s pet project. Perhaps he even understands. That is because Taylor Sheridan has been creating pet projects for several years, and fans have taken a shine to all things Dutton.
John Dutton’s End Won’t Be ‘F-k-You’ Car Crash
When it comes to John Dutton, Kevin Costner’s Award-Winning character, Taylor Sheridan seems sad that his character’s end is happening so fast. But, it does not change how he will close out John Dutton’s storyline. “It truncates the closure of his character. It doesn’t alter it, but it truncates it.”
However, Taylor Sheridan is sure to focus on storytelling when ending Yellowstone. “I don’t do f-k-you car crashes.” In this, he hints at how his Sons Of Anarchy character, Deputy Chief David Hale, was killed off. But, he does not seem to be interested in what Costner has to say about how John Dutton dies.
Whether [Dutton’s fate] inflates [Costner’s] ego or insults is collateral damage that I don’t factor with regard to storytelling.
Sounds like Taylor Sheridan is addressing the news that Kevin Costner has a stipulation before returning to the Paramount series. He wants to have a say in John Dutton’s fate.
Then again, Taylor admitted that although he and Costner did not have the sorts of feuds alluded to the past five months, he admitted that Costner did make the show better.
“There is no compromising.”
Taylor Sheridan breaks silence on #YellowstoneTV ending, Kevin Costner's exit, that potential Matthew McConaughey spin-off, how HBO lost TV’s most popular show and why he doesn't really have a god complex: https://t.co/91n1Qu3R4H pic.twitter.com/p05jkOKgeK
— The Hollywood Reporter (@THR) June 21, 2023
A few years back, Kevin was not happy about John Dutton’s Season 2 storyline. Describing Yellowstone as “The Godfather In Montana,” Sheridan explained that Costner did not feel his character was as focused on family and the old way of life as he should.
Sheridan contended, “I don’t know that he was wrong.” He continued that in Season 3, “We steered right back into it.” Moreover, he pointed out that Costner won a Golden Globe for that season.
Instead of a feud, sounds more like the Yellowstone creator thought Kevin Costner was right. Best of all, the third season won an award. That input sent the show down the right trajectory.
What do you think of Taylor Sheridan’s clarification on the alleged feud with Kevin Costner?
