Taylor Sheridan’s neo-Western series Yellowstone is about as dramatic as they come — both on and off the screen.
Set in rural Montana, Yellowstone follows the Duttons, a multigenerational ranching family fighting to maintain their way of life as they face constant battles with land developers, Native American reservations, and their own flesh and blood. The show has been a hit for Paramount Network since its debut in 2018, garnering widespread critical acclaim and a loyal fanbase. But behind the scenes, the drama has been just as intense.
Feuds, legal battles and dramatic exits have changed the future of the show. In February 2023, rumors began swirling that Kevin Costner, who plays Yellowstone patriarch John Dutton, was leaving the show to focus on his multi-part Western movie series Horizon: An American Saga.
Deadline reported that the actor’s divided attention and limited shooting schedule were “a source of frustration” for Sheridan. When an agreement between the two parties couldn’t be reached, the network announced that the second half of season 5 would be the show’s final installment. It’s scheduled to premiere in November 2024, followed by two spinoff series.
Costner isn’t the only cast member to go toe-to-toe with Sheridan. On Nov. 21, Sheridan’s coffee company, Bosque Ranch, filed a lawsuit against Yellowstone star Cole Hauser’s coffee company, Free Rein, for “trademark infringement, unfair competition and false advertising.” The lawsuit alleges that Free Rein’s logo is “confusingly similar” to Bosque Ranch’s.
The Cast of ‘Yellowstone’: Everything to Know
The drama doesn’t end there. Here’s a breakdown of the biggest behind-the-scenes scandals that have rocked the Yellowstone franchise.
Speculation about Costner’s departure from Yellowstone first surfaced in May 2023. Rumors suggested that he wouldn’t return after season 5 and that Matthew McConaughey would take over as lead. Puck News reported that the actor’s long list of demands included a higher salary, a reduced shooting schedule, and the right to weigh in on scripts. Both Costner and Sheridan remained tight-lipped while negotiations halted filming until the network announced the end of the series.
The actor first addressed leaving the show during a child support hearing in 2023. In his testimony, Costner said he wanted to return for a sixth season but declined because he was offered less money than he had made in previous seasons. He also cited creative issues as contributing to his decision. While Sheridan didn’t address any rumors of behind-the-scenes tension, he did thank Costner for a “symbolic and powerful” performance as John Dutton.
“I’m disappointed,” Sheridan told The Hollywood Reporter in June 2023. “It truncates the closure of his character. It doesn’t alter it, but it truncates it.”
In May 2024, Costner set the record straight about his pending exit during an interview with Deadline.
“I have taken a beating from those f—ing guys. I made Yellowstone the first priority, and to insinuate anything else would be wrong,” he said, adding that he’s “very open to coming back” for whatever length of time. “If the writing is there, I will be there too.”
