Kevin Costner Breaks Silence on 'Yellowstone' Chaos

In a revealing interview with Deadline, acclaimed actor and filmmaker Kevin Costner has finally shared his side of the story regarding the behind-the-scenes turmoil surrounding the hit TV series "Yellowstone."

Costner, who has starred as the family patriarch John Dutton since the show's inception, did not hold back in his candid commentary, addressing the production chaos that has plagued the series' fifth season.

At the heart of the issue, Costner claims that "Yellowstone" producers Paramount Network and 101 Studios were responsible for the delays and disruptions, not him. He states that the production was never fully prepared and often failed to deliver scripts on time, which led to constant delays and renegotiations of his contract.

"There were blocks of time that we didn’t get 10 episodes done. Basically, we were starting in April and May, and we’d usually go through August. We’d do 10. We didn’t even get 10 done during that time. I only worked 43 days," Costner said.

Costner also refuted claims that his involvement in his own passion project, the epic historical drama "Horizon," was the root cause of the "Yellowstone" scheduling issues. Instead, he maintains that he prioritized "Yellowstone" and fit "Horizon" into the gaps, but the production company's inability to stay on schedule made it increasingly difficult. 

"I left my movie to be on time for them for 5B. 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 explained. 

The actor also expressed frustration with the lack of support from his "Yellowstone" collaborators, particularly co-creator Taylor Sheridan, during the public scrutiny. Costner felt he was unfairly portrayed as the cause of the problems when in reality, he had upheld his contractual obligations.

They should have known that there was going to be an opportunity for me to say something. I didn’t have to answer the slings and arrows over the last year and a half, because I’ve just been busy working. They’ve been pretty slick about keeping their hands off; nobody was ever on the record," Costner said.

Despite the drama, Costner remains open to returning to "Yellowstone" as long as the writing and production are up to par. He acknowledges the success of the show and its spin-offs but emphasizes that he needs to ensure his own creative and professional needs are met.

"If they’ve got so many other things going on, maybe this circles back and it’s a really cool two seasons. Or end it, if the writing’s there and I’m happy with it. I’m open to that," Costner said.

The "Yellowstone" saga has certainly captured the attention of audiences and industry insiders alike. Costner's candid interview provides a much-needed glimpse into the behind-the-scenes turmoil, offering a more balanced perspective on the ongoing drama. As fans eagerly await the resolution of this saga, Costner's commitment to his craft and his artistic vision remains undiminished.