The concluding part of the fifth and final season of Western drama Yellowstone has yet to air. But one of the show’s biggest stars does not appear to be returning.
After much speculation in recent months, Kevin Costner has finally opened up about why he dramatically quit the hit Western drama Yellowstone.
It was reported by PEOPLE that Kevin, who plays family patriarch John Dutton on the show, had decided to leave the hit drama after discovering that the final season would be split into two parts.
This new production schedule would cause an issue with the other projects that he was working on, namely his four-part film series, Horizon: An American Saga.
Other rumours suggested that Kevin wanted to wrap up his filming for the remaining episodes of season five within a single week so that he could focus on these other projects.
But Kevin has apparently finally addressed his role on Yellowstone while giving testimony as part of his current divorce proceedings.
According to reporters present at the trial, the actor and director said: “There were issues about creative. I tried to break the logjam. They walked away.”
He also mentioned that the whole situation was “complicated” and that he “did negotiate” to do further seasons of Yellowstone.
He is believed to have said that he will “probably go to court” over the matter, with him potentially taking legal action and suing because of these issues with production.
The show’s creator Taylor Sheridan shared his perspective with The Hollywood Reporter in June of this year.
He outlined that while his “opinion of Kevin as an actor hasn’t altered”, there had never been an “issue with Kevin that he and I couldn’t work out on the phone.” That was until lawyers got “involved.”
Taylor concluded that he was “disappointed” and that it “truncates the closure of his character. It doesn’t alter it, but it truncates it.”
Earlier this year it was announced that the Paramount series would be coming to an end with its fifth and final season. But Kevin’s contract dispute was not the only thing to put new episodes on hold.
The ongoing SAG-AFTRA strikes, which are affecting many Hollywood productions, has prevented Yellowstone’s stars from returning to set.
At this moment there have been no official announcements as to when the remainder of season five will air. It was originally slated for a November 2023 return, however, Paramount’s new fall schedule only includes repeats instead of new episodes.
It looks like fans may have some time to wait before the show’s conclusion returns to screens, with it now most likely being in 2024.