Yellowstone Co-Creator Denies Rumors of On-Set Conflict With Kevin Costner

Yellowstone creator Taylor Sheridan claims he never clashed with series star Kevin Costner over the show’s direction, suggesting the actor’s departure was fueled by a disagreeable schedule.

Per The Hollywood Reporter, the award-winning writer and producer responded to claims that Costner was unhappy with how his character, John Dutton, was evolving over the course of the show, a concern which reportedly led to a great deal of conflict. While the creator acknowledged the star’s issues with his arc, Sheridan also states the reports were largely overblown. “I never had that conversation with Kevin,” Sheridan said. “There was a time in season two when he was very upset and said the character wasn’t going in the direction he wanted. I said, ‘Kevin, you do remember that I told you this is essentially The Godfather on the largest ranch in Montana? Are you that surprised that the Godfather is killing people?'”

Sheridan goes on to admit that Yellowstone Season 2 may have veered too far away from the core focus of the Dutton’s commitments and family life, acknowledging that certain changes were made to bring the show back to what Costner envisioned for John Dutton. “What he’s clung to is [Dutton’s] commitments to his family and way of life. Dutton’s big failing is not evolving with the times — not finding different revenue streams [for the ranch]. Kevin felt season two was deviating from that, and I don’t know that he was wrong. In season three, we steered back into it,” Sheridan explained.

Costner Leaves Yellowstone

When probed regarding the reason why Costner ultimately opted to leave Yellowstone, Sheridan noted that he only has control over the creative side of the series; scheduling matters and shooting days aren’t dictated by him. In contrast, Paramount boss Chris McCarthy placed more emphasis on Costner’s lack of flexibility and limited availability. At the time of writing, the actor himself has yet to address the reasoning behind his departure.

Yellowstone is currently one of the most-watched television series in the United States, chronicling the trials and tribulations of the Dutton Family, the owners of the largest ranch in Montana. Sheridan’s neo-Western has earned rave reviews for its layered and complex political intrigue as well as strong performances from the lead cast. Yellowstone‘s success led to two spinoff series, 1883 and 1923, both of which are prequels that explain the Dutton’s rise to power.

Yellowstone Season 5 Part 2 is expected to premiere in November 2023.