Taylor Sheridan has made a rare comment about Kevin Costner‘s exit from Yellowstone.
The series’ creator and writer appeared on “The Bill Simmons Podcast,” where he reflected on his disappointment over Costner’s departure from the show amid rumors of a feud between the two.
He explained that Costner was “only supposed to be in the first three seasons,” adding, “That was in his contract. In my mind, that’s when his youngest son takes over [in the narrative]… But the network was so scared of not having Kevin be a part of it, even though Kevin was ready. He was ready to go. He had other things he wanted to do, but he stayed on for another two seasons.”
At the time, he stayed for more seasons because of how huge a hit the show had turned into.
Eventually, though, it was time for Costner to “go do [his] own thing.”
Sheridan previously addressed his difficult relationship with Costner and his premature exit from the show.
“My opinion of Kevin as an actor hasn’t altered,” he told The Hollywood Reporter in 2023. “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.”
He added. “I’m disappointed. [Costner leaving] truncates the closure of his character. It doesn’t alter it, but it truncates it.”
Yellowstone ran for five seasons between 2018 and 2024. Costner portrayed patriarch John Dutton, while Luke Grimes, Kelly Reilly, Wes Bentley, Kelsey Asbille and Brecken Merrill all played various members of the Dutton family. Superstar Lainey Wilson also made an appearance.
The show was a blockbuster, winning one Golden Globe, one Academy of Country Music Award and one Critics’ Choice Super Award.
Formerly an actor, Sheridan is also known as the writer on H*** or High Water, Wind River, Sicario, Landman and The Madison, among many others.
