The American neowestern series Yellowstone starring Kevin Costner not only offers plenty of drama on screen, but also behind the scenes. Now it is coming to an end – and without Kevin Costner.
When the drama series Yellowstone first aired on domestic screens in June 2018, the cable channel Paramount Network had every reason to be pleased – not only were viewers visibly enthusiastic, but the show also received widespread praise from the usually harsh film critics. After all, Yellowstone was able to secure an outstanding actor in Kevin Costner, who embodied the role of John Dutton in a way that hardly anyone else could have done.
But now John Dutton has called it quits – after five seasons, Kevin Costner has left the neo-western series, which is also ending as a result. However, as an article in People magazine shows, there was plenty of drama not only in the lives of the fictional characters, but also behind the scenes among the actors themselves. We have the sad chronology of how the once most successful US series ran into trouble and preferred to end.
Kevin Costner is more passionate about Horizon than Yellowstone
Anyone who goes to the movies these days will hardly be able to avoid the new Western epic Horizon – a film that has even entered into unusual advertising partnerships, for example with the Berlin public transport company BVG. The marketing is on point, and lead actor Kevin Costner is also fully committed – so much so that he has given up his popular role as John Dutton in Yellowstone for it.
While Horizon has only been known to the general public since the end of August, the film by and with Kevin Costner has been causing a stir on the set of Yellowstone since February 2023. At the time, rumors were circulating that the celebrated actor would rather devote himself to his own project, the multi-part Horizon film series.
Watch a trailer for the second half of Yellowstone Season 5 here:
According to the industry magazine Deadline, Costner’s divided attention and limited time for filming led to considerable resentment on the part of series creator Taylor Sheridan. When the two sides were ultimately unable to reach an agreement, the broadcaster announced in May 2023 that the second half of season five would also be the last installment of Yellowstone. At the time, it was the most successful U.S. series, drawing huge numbers with 12.1 million viewers for the premiere of season 4.
Yellowstone creator Taylor Sheridan and Kevin Costner simply could not agree
But it wasn’t just Costner’s divided attention that caused conflicts with Sheridan, but also his extensive demands. In July 2023, Sheridan and Costner were already talking about what a Costner return might look like, according to Puck. The actor demanded a higher salary, a reduced shooting schedule and the right to collaborate on the scripts. While negotiations stalled and filming paused, both sides kept their lips zipped.
In August 2023, Kevin Costner spoke openly about the fact that financial reasons contributed to his departure from Yellowstone. He explained that he would have been willing to return for a sixth season, but turned it down because he was offered a lower salary than in previous seasons. The often-mentioned “creative differences” were another reason. Almost a year later, in June 2024, Costner categorically ruled out a return to Yellowstone.
There were also differences between Costner and his wife. Shortly after Kevin Costner’s departure from Yellowstone was announced, it was revealed that his wife Christine Baumgartner, to whom he had been married for 18 years, had filed for divorce. The proximity in time of the two events led to speculation that Baumgartner may have influenced Costner’s decision. However, in court documents, Baumgartner denied that she had pushed him to leave the series. The private circumstances remain unclear, as neither Baumgartner nor Costner speak publicly about them.
