The Yellowstone drama with Kevin Costner and the creators of the show has been a mess and has affected the show a great deal. The first part of the fifth season of the much-beloved series was aired between November 2022 to January 2023. After that, Paramount pushed the second part of the season to more than a year away to November 2024.
Since then, many reports about the on-set drama between Costner and series creator Taylor Sheridan started coming out. The matter became so heated that Costner even voiced his desire to appeal to the court. Most shockingly, the second part of the final season may not even feature Costner’s John Dutton, who has been carrying the series for all these years.
The Messy Behind-the-Scenes Drama of Yellowstone Led to Kevin Costner’s Exit
The news of the behind-the-scenes drama of the hit Paramount+ series Yellowstone made headlines last year after the first part of the fifth and final season of the show aired. The main cause of this was the creative differences between Kevin Costner and series creator Taylor Sheridan, who each wanted to steer the ship individually.
During his 2023 divorce battle with his ex-wife Christine Baumgartner, he told the court that he was offered to do more seasons of Yellowstone after season 5 by Paramount (via Deadline). However, those ideas were scrapped due to creative differences and season 5 became the final season. The shooting schedule for Yellows tone also overlapped with the shoot of Costner’s passion project, the upcoming Horizon film series.
Additionally, Puck News reported that Costner’s contract had a moral death clause which meant that he had the power to dictate how his character would be killed (if it happened) The report also claimed that he had a long list of demands including a bigger salary, fewer shooting schedules and making revisions to Sheridan’s scripts, which was out of line for Sheridan who prefers to “tell his stories his way” (via The Hollywood Reporter).
The second part of the fifth season has not even started shooting yet. Its production is likely to begin in spring of 2024 according to industry insider Matthew Belloni. He even went on to say that Costner will not be in the second part at all.
Just like John Dutton is forced to move his cattle to ‘greener pastures’ in season 5, Paramount is now moving on from the Yellowstone debacle and looking forward to a follow-up series with Matthew McConaughey titled 2024. Paramount is extremely excited for this new series and after all the drama with Costner, they want to focus on a new lead carrying on the legacy of the Dutton family.
Kevin Costner Loved America Ferrera’s Monologue in Barbie
Kevin Costner and America Ferrera were presenters at the recent Golden Globes. Before announcing the nominee for Best TV Actor (Female), Costner gushed about Ferrera’s monologue in Barbie. He also managed to recite parts of the monologue much to Ferrera’s surprise.
Costner went on to praise Ferrera for her performance in the scene and emphasized the important message of the scene. He called it an unforgettable moment in today’s cinema and a significant example of the power that films have in giving audiences a powerful and relatable moment. He said (via YouTube),
“You know, it’s literally impossible to be a woman. You are so beautiful, and so smart, and it kills me that you don’t think you’re good enough. That was pretty good. But it’s an important message, really… and it always serves to remind me what’s possible in film.
It just reminds me that when we take our time, when we manage to get it right, when film is working at its very best it can be about moments you never, ever forget… you just had one of those moments.”
Ferrera’s monologue is one of the main highlights of the film and fans have also expressed their love for the scene and Ferrera’s performance. She has been nominated for an Oscar for Barbie and this particular scene was her gateway to receiving such a prestigious nomination.