Yellowstone Boss Taylor Sheridan ‘Disappointed’ By Kevin Costner Leaving

In an interview published on Wednesday, Yellowstone showrunner Taylor Sheridan spoke of Kevin Costner’s departure and how to end the hit series. He told the Hollywood Reporter that Costner’s leaving “truncates the closure of his character. It doesn’t alter it, but it truncates it.” As fans know, Costner plays the role of patriarch John Dutton, a character Sheridan describes as “symbolic and powerful.”

Taylor Sheridan on Yellowstone’s end

Last month, Paramount Network confirmed that Yellowstone would end with season 5. However, speculation had started in February about Kevin Costner’s possible departure from the show. At that stage, Deadline reported Costner could be leaving due to “disagreements over shooting schedules.”

Since that time neither Paramount nor Costner have made any official statements on the latter’s future with Yellowstone. However, conversations are reportedly ongoing as to how to wrap his character from part 2 of season 5 of the modern Western series.

Meanwhile, Sheridan said there were no issues between him and Costner, telling The Hollywood Reporter, “My opinion of Kevin as an actor hasn’t altered.” Speaking of the Dances with Wolves actor’s Horizon movie project, Sheridan said:

My last conversation with Kevin was that he had this passion project he wanted to direct.

Moreover, Sheridan said he has never had an issue with Kevin that they couldn’t work out over the phone. However, he added that once lawyers get involved, communication got complicated.

Taylor Sheridan supports Kevin Costner’s film project

In the interview, Sheridan showed support for Costner’s passion project, Horizon, saying, “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.”

Speaking of the final episodes of Yellowstone, Sheridan explained that due to the ongoing WGA Writers’ strike, he is yet to write the final episodes. However, he explained:

If I think it takes 10 episodes to wrap it up, they’ll give me 10. It’ll be as long as it needs to be.

In the meantime, fans are already getting excited about a new spinoff series starring actor Matthew McConaughey. Set to premiere after the last episodes of Yellowstone, this will surely keep fans happy. Moreover, season 2 of the Yellowstone prequel 1923 is yet to air, along with the spinoff from 1883, Lawmen: Bass Reeves.

Meanwhile, the latter is said to start more series about famous lawmen of the West which certainly sounds exciting for fans.

Readers, will you be disappointed if Kevin Costner doesn’t star as John Dutton in the final episodes of Yellowstone? Let us know by dropping a comment below.