‘Yellowstone’ Creator Taylor Sheridan Reveals All About Kevin Costner Leaving The Show

Earlier this year, it was revealed that Kevin Costner would be leaving the hugely popular show “Yellowstone” amidst rumors of tensions behind the scenes. Now, “Yellowstone” creator Taylor Sheridan has finally broken his silence to speak publicly about this situation for the first time.

Sheridan Breaks His Silence

“My opinion of Kevin as an actor hasn’t altered,” Sheridan told The Hollywood Reporter. “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 continued. “He took a lot of this on the chin and I don’t know that anyone deserves it.”

Costner, 68, is currently working on his four-film epic saga Horizon, for which he serves as writer, director, producer, and star.

“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,” Sheridan explained. “I’m disappointed. It truncates the closure of his character. It doesn’t alter it, but it truncates it.”

Related: ‘Yellowstone’ Star Kevin Costner’s Divorce Takes Nasty Turn As Wife Refuses To Move Out Of Home

Sheridan Shooots Down Rumor

In this same interview, Sheridan addressed a widely reported story that he had once told Costner to “stick to acting” when the former Dances With Wolves star expressed concerns about where his character was going.

“I never had that conversation with Kevin,” Sheridan claimed. “There was a time in season two when he was very upset and said the character wasn’t going in the direction he wanted. I said, ‘Kevin, you do remember that I told you this is essentially The Godfather on the largest ranch in Montana? Are you that surprised that the Godfather is killing people?’”

“What he’s clung to is [Dutton’s] commitments to his family and way of life,” he added. “Dutton’s big failing is not evolving with the times — not finding different revenue streams [for the ranch]. Kevin felt season two was deviating from that, and I don’t know that he was wrong. In season three, we steered back into it. I recall him winning a Golden Globe last year for his performance, so I think it’s working.”

Related: You Won’t Believe How Much Kevin Costner’s Wife Wants In Child Support Per Month

Dutton’s Fate

As for what will happen to Dutton, Sheridan revealed very little.

“Whether (Dutton’s fate) inflates (Costner’s) ego or insults is collateral damage that I don’t factor in with regard to storytelling,” he said.

“Yellowstone” will be coming to an end after the second half of season five, which is set to air in the fall, although that will depend on the outcome of the Hollywood writers strike.

“If I think it takes 10 episodes to wrap it up, they’ll give me 10,” Sheridan said. “It’ll be as long as it needs to be.”

This comes at a difficult time for Costner, as his wife of 18 years recently blindsided him by filing for divorce. While we will dearly miss Costner on “Yellowstone,” we hope that he feels that he made the right decision for himself.

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