Taylor Sheridan Discusses Kevin Costner's YELLOWSTONE Exit and Says It "Truncates" John Dutton's Ending
Kevin Costner will not be returning to Yellowstone after Season 5. His time as John Dutton has come to an end. That announcement came after reports surfaced of behind the scenes drama between Costner and co-creator Taylor Sheridan and the show’s production.
The Yellowstone series will come to an end with Season five, but there’s a sequel series that will follow that’s already been announced, which will star Matthew McConaughey. That series will see several characters from Yellowstone come over.
While Costner's exit does alter the overall plans for Yellowstone and particularly his character, Sheridan says it doesn't actually change John Dutton's ending, it just truncates it. While talking to THR, Sheridan said:
"I'm disappointed. It truncates the closure of his character. It doesn't alter it, but it truncates it. I don't do f-ck you car crashes. Whether [Dutton's] fate inflates [Costner's] ego or insults is collateral damage that I don't factor in with regard to storytelling."
He also talked about whether or not his opinion of Costner had changed since all of this happened and said that his Western film, Horizon, is both worthwhile and good. Costner left Yellowstone to pursue this film project. Sheridan said:
"My opinion of Kevin as an actor hasn't altered. His creation of John Dutton is symbolic and powerful … and I've never had an issue with Kevin that he and I couldn't work out on the phone. But once lawyers get involved, then people don't get to talk to each other and start saying things that aren't true and attempt to shift blame based on how the press or public seem to be reacting. He took a lot of this on the chin and I don't know that anyone deserves it. 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."
Yellowstone is an incredibly well-made show, and it follows the Dutton family, led by patriarch John Dutton. The Duttons control the largest contiguous ranch in the U.S. and must contend with constant attacks by land developers, clashes with an Indian reservation and conflict with America's first national park.
While it sucks the series is coming to an end, the story will continue, and I have no doubt that Sheridan is going to deliver a great show with the sequel series.
Chris McCarthy, president & CEO of Showtime and MTV Entertainment Studios, previously said: “Yellowstone has been the cornerstone on which we have launched an entire universe of global hits – from 1883 to Tulsa King, and I am confident our Yellowstone sequel will be another big hit, thanks to the brilliant creative mind of Taylor Sheridan and our incredible casts who bring these shows to life.”
David Glasser, CEO of 101 Studios added: “The Dutton story continues, picking up where Yellowstone leaves off in another epic tale. We are thrilled to bring this new journey to audiences around the world.”