If you’re wondering whether the dynamic between Kevin Costner and the Yellowstone cast and crew has improved recently, you should know that Paramount neglected to inform Costner in advance of the Friday news that the most popular TV program will finish in November. So, not so good. According to numerous sources involved in this high-stakes, months-long standoff, Costner hasn’t agreed to return at all for the final episodes, which were being written by co-creator Taylor Sheridan before Monday’s WGA strike and were scheduled for a summer and fall shoot. Costner is currently busy filming the sequel to his still-undated Horizon movie.
Over the past couple months, various Costner scenarios have been floated, per sources close to the production. Paramount’s Chris McCarthy and Yellowstone producer David Glasser suggested anywhere from 30 days to 45 days of shooting; Costner’s team has countered with a range from one week to three weeks, with the latest interactions suggesting the lower end of that timeline. Paramount has been waiting a while for Costner’s lawyer, Howard Kaplan, to provide a final answer on what Costner is willing to do, so McCarthy just decided to announce the end date for the episodes, the first few of which have been written with flexibility to allow for various levels of Costner involvement (or non-involvement). Remember, this show was supposed to air its 5B season in June. Given how long Costner has jerked around the show’s creatives and executives, I’d probably do the same.
Unfunny quirk: Costner, who earns $1.2 million per episode this season, reportedly won’t decide to come back until he knows and is happy with how his John Dutton character is written out of the franchise. Given his level of sophistication, Costner wants to avoid what Shonda Rhimes did to Patrick Dempsey, who was killed in a car accident while racing. Therefore, Sheridan might not be able to get rid of his Western-loving leading man by having a horse kick him.
