Yellowstone Creator Taylor Sheridan 'Disappointed' by Kevin Costner's Exit in First Interview Since Feud Rumors

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Taylor Sheridan is setting the record straight.

After months of bombshell reports about Kevin Costner's future on Yellowstone, the creator is speaking out for the first time.

In a wide-ranging interview with The Hollywood Reporter, Sheridan touched upon the future of Yellowstone.

Kelly Reilly, Wes Bentley, Luke Grimes, Kevin Costner, Taylor Sheridan, Kelsey Asbille and Dave Annabl

For those uninitiated, Paramount Network is ending the series after five seasons, with the final episodes set to segue into a Matthew McCanaughey-led spinoff.

Sheridan explained that Costner was adamant about wrapping up his work on Yellowstone Season 5 so that he could focus on his new movie, Horizon.

Celebration - Yellowstone Season 5 Episode 1

"My last conversation with Kevin was that he had this passion project he wanted to direct," Sheridan said. 

"He and the network were arguing about when he could be done with Yellowstone."

"I said, 'We can certainly work a schedule toward [his preferred exit date],' which we did."

Yellowstone Season 5 was set to return to the cable network this summer for what was planned as the final episodes of the season before heading into a potential sixth season.

John's Got a Drink - Yellowstone Season 5 Episode 2

However, that plan has changed, and the series is set to conclude with its fifth season.

Ahead of that announcement, rumors ran rampant that Sheridan and Costner locked horns and that there was discord between them.

"My opinion of Kevin as an actor hasn't altered," Sheridan told THR of the alleged drama.

"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."

The Governor - Yellowstone Season 5 Episode 4

Sheridan also touched upon Costner's frustration with John Dutton's arc.

"I never had that conversation with Kevin," Sheridan said.

"There was a time in season 2 when he was very upset and said the character wasn't going in the direction he wanted."

"Kevin felt [Yellowstone Season 2] was deviating from that, and I don't know that he was wrong. In season 3, we steered back into it," he dished, adding:

"And I recall him winning a Golden Globe last year for his performance, so I think it's working."

Father Daughter Talk - Yellowstone Season 5 Episode 5

Sheridan also said that "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 hour the press or public seem to be reacting" about the feud rumors.

"[Kevin] 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."

Sheridan revealed that the scripts for the last-ever episodes of Yellowstone have not been written.

Writing won't resume until the WGA strike is resolved.

As for how Costner's exit will affect John Dutton's final arc, Sheridan is "disappointed."

Actor Kevin Costner attends the 'Highwaymen' film by Netflix premiere

"It truncates the closure of his character. It doesn't alter it, but it truncates it."

The super-producer went on to say that he's not to blame for the hold-up and that he doesn't get to dictate schedules.

What are your thoughts on the wild interview?

Hit the comments.

Remember, you can watch Yellowstone online right here via TV Fanatic.

Paul Dailly was an Associate Editor for TV Fanatic.Follow him on X.

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Yellowstone Quotes

John: Not hungry?
Beth: Nuh-uh. I'm intermittent fasting.
John: What's that mean?
Beth: Nothing but coffee and cigarettes till noon, and then I can eat what the fuck I want till I start drinkin' at six.
John: Well, I'd love to meet the doctor who came up with that diet.
Beth: I've adapted it to suit my lifestyle.

John: Rip, have you figured out how to do this without all us gettin' trampled?
Rip: Best we came up with, sir, is like fuck it, you know? Let's get up there as fast as we can and chase those son of a bitches down the mountain.
John: Fuck it? That your plan, too? Fuck it?
Kayce: It's gonna be a shit show now matter what we do. May as well do it fast, less time for things to go wrong.
John: Your logic is so flawed, son, it's, hell, it almost makes sense.