Yellowstone: Kevin Costner Opens Up On Leaving Show In Divorce Court

Meta-tag: Back in May, it was revealed that Yellowstone was coming to an end with season 5 and now Kevin Costner has opened up about leaving.

 

For some time, headlines reported drama about Kevin Costner leaving his role at John Dutton on Yellowstone. Meanwhile, the Paramount show is coming to an end with part 2 of season 5 of the modern Western series. While rumors swirled relating to Costner and Taylor Sheridan warring over the series, the actor has said nothing – at least, until now when he opened up during his divorce trial from his wife, Christine Baumgartner.

Kevin Costner leaving Yellowstone

While Kevin Costner had kept quiet relating to leaving Yellowstone, the actor has finally opened up a little while in court for his divorce from his wife, Christine Baumgarter.

Back in May, 2023 it was revealed that the popular Paramount series, Yellowstone, was coming to an end with part 2 of the fifth and final season in November. In the series, Costner plays patriarch John Dutton to great effect.

This news came after reports that the Dances With Wolves actor was in conflict with the show’s co-creator, Taylor Sheridan over scheduling conflicts. While Sheridan had said he was “disappointed” with Costner’s decision, Costner was famously silent on the issue.

Costner opens up about leaving during divorce trial

As reported by multiple news outlets, the actor finally addressed the Yellowstone drama while giving testimony in his divorce trial on Friday, September 1.

Reportedly, the Bodyguard actor explained in court that the situation was “complicated. In fact, he said that he “did negotiate” to return for three more seasons of the hit modern Western series. As revealed by reporters present at the trial, Costner explained:

There were issues about creative. I tried to break the logjam. They walked away.

Soon after this, he reportedly said he would “probably go to court” over the matter.

It is believed that Costner’s scheduling conflicts are related to a passion project he is creating, Horizon: An American West, which has been ongoing for 35 years.

Speaking of the project, Sheridan had said, “My last conversation with Kevin was that he had this passion project he wanted to direct. He and the network were arguing about when he could be done with Yellowstone. I said, ‘We can certainly work a schedule toward [his preferred exit date],’ which we did.”

However, in February, sources claimed to Deadline that the Golden Globe winner only wanted to spend one single week shooting his season for part 2 of season 5. However, Costner’s attorney denied the report.

A source said, “The idea that Kevin was only willing to work one week on the second half of season five of Yellowstone is an absolute lie.”

While Yellowstone fans impatiently wait for the final episodes of the modern Western series, at least Kevin Costner has given some sort of closure.