Nearly two months after reports surfaced that Yellowstone may end after scheduling conflicts with star Kevin Costner, Paramount’s Chris McCarthy is hopeful the show can continue with Costner.
The original report surfaced in early February, claiming Costner, 68, only wanted to spend a week filming the back half of the current fifth season, which returns this summer on the Paramount Network.
The report claimed Paramount refused Costner’s demands and claimed a new spin-off series starring Matthew McConaughey would ultimately take its place.
McCarthy, the president and CEO of Paramount Media Networks, opened up in a wide-ranging interview in The Hollywood Reporter, where he didn’t offer any specifics but remained hopeful they could retain Costner for more Yellowstone.
‘(Yellowstone) wouldn’t be what it is today without Kevin and we hope that that stays for a long time to come,’ McCarthy said in the interview.
McCarthy’s statement is similar to one Paramount Network issued in early February after the original report.
‘We have no news to report. Kevin Costner is a big part of Yellowstone and we hope that’s the case for a long time to come,’ the statement began.
‘Thanks to the brilliant mind of Taylor Sheridan, we are always working on franchise expansions of this incredible world he has built. Matthew McConaughey is a phenomenal talent with whom we’d love to partner,’ the statement added.
While McCarthy wouldn’t elaborate on Costner’s situation, he did clarify that the project with Matthew McConaughey will still be moving forward regardless of Costner’s return.
McCarthy added that the McConaughey project is one of a whopping 10 projects that Yellowstone creator Taylor Sheridan has in development at the network.
Shortly after the report, several Yellowstone stars addressed the rumors, including Piper Perabo, who plays Summer Higgins and is also married to one of the show’s directors, Stephen Kay.
‘I mean, there’s always a lot of drama when it comes to Yellowstone, don’t believe everything you hear,’ Perabo told ET.
‘Taylor Sheridan knows to play it really close to the vest, and I know better than to speak outside the ranch, but I’m excited to see what happens next.’
Lainey Wilson, who plays musician Abby on the show, added, ‘You know what, I don’t know much, but I have a feeling they’re going to end it the right way, and there’s gonna be more of it. And I’m hoping I’m gonna be back in it!’
While she hasn’t filmed any scenes with Costner, she added, ‘From everything I’ve heard about the man, he’s just as kind as he is talented.’
Cole Hauser, who plays cowboy Rip Wheeler on the hit series, indicated in an interview there will be at least two more seasons of Yellowstone.
‘I can tell you there will be 6 and there will be a seventh, that’s all I can say. That’s all I can tell you,’ Hauser hinted.
While Costner himself hasn’t spoken out publicly about the report, his lawyer Marty Singer claimed the report was all a lie.
‘The idea that Kevin was only willing to work one week on the second half of season 5 of Yellowstone is an absolute lie,’ Singer stated.
‘It’s ridiculous — and anyone suggesting it shouldn’t be believed for one second,’ Singer added.
Costner is also working on his first directorial effort in 20 years, entitled Horizon, which will take place over a 15-year period of, ‘pre-and post-Civil War expansion and settlement of the American west,’ and stars Luke Wilson, Sienna Miller, Sam Worthington and Jamie Campbell Bower.