Actor Kevin Costner sheds light on the controversy surrounding the future of "Yellowstone," addressing allegations of scheduling conflicts and production issues that have delayed the show's return.
For over a year, the future of the hit series "Yellowstone" has been shrouded in uncertainty, with rumors and speculation swirling about its lead actor, Kevin Costner. Now, Costner has broken his silence, sharing his side of the story and revealing the behind-the-scenes drama that has led to the show's delay.
In a candid interview with Deadline, the 69-year-old actor, who portrays John Dutton III in the series, refutes allegations that he only wanted to work for one week to film the remaining episodes of season 5. Costner emphasizes that he has always fulfilled his contractual obligations and has never missed a day of work.
"I left my movie ["Horizon"] to be on time for them for 5B," Costner said. "I left exactly when they wanted, and it made it hard on me. It turns out they didn’t have the scripts for 5B. They needed four more days just to complete the first eight episodes. I left early to give them what they needed to have a complete eight, and I felt bad that the audience didn’t get 10. They didn’t have the scripts for anything else."
Costner expresses disappointment that the production failed to provide him with the necessary scripts, leading to the delay in filming. He also highlights the fact that the show's spinoffs have taken precedence over the main series, which has contributed to the production challenges.
"They were silent and that bothered me in the world of how you do things," Costner confessed. "Why don’t you stick up for me? I went and sold this thing for you. I was going to only do one season. I made it for three. I fulfilled three. So, I went from one to three, then I did a fourth one for them, and they wanted to do three more. So, I made the contract to do that. They imploded. I had a contract to do five, six and seven. I was contracted to do that. There’s nothing I could have done to get out of that, nor was I trying to just figure out how, when we started."
Despite the ongoing drama, Costner remains open to returning to "Yellowstone" if the writing is strong. However, he emphasizes that he is not willing to prioritize the show over his own projects.
"I’m very open to coming back. If they’ve got so many other things going on, maybe this circles back and it’s a really cool two seasons," he said. "Or end it, if the writing’s there and I’m happy with it. I’m open to that. But I took a beating over these guys not speaking up for me and allowing crazy stories to come out."
Costner's comments shed light on the complexities behind the production of "Yellowstone" and the challenges faced by its lead actor. While the future of the show remains uncertain, Costner's willingness to return suggests that there may still be hope for fans eagerly awaiting the conclusion of the Dutton family saga.
