Yellowstone star Kevin Costner has shared what he claims is the “actual reality” behind the drama surrounding his exit from the smash hit sequence.
In a brand new interview with Deadline, the 69-year-old actor, who portrays John Dutton III within the sequence, says he “lived up” to his contract regardless of ongoing hypothesis on the contrary.
He additionally opened up concerning the sequence of occasions that led to the demise of his time on the sequence.
“There was no script,” Costner, who has but to movie the second half of season 5 (5B), revealed. “After which issues imploded. You’ve been studying one model [of the show’s issues] for a yr and a half.”
A number of sources had beforehand claimed that Costner solely wished to work for one week to movie the remainder of the episodes. This might have confirmed extremely tough for manufacturing, contemplating Costner was the star of the present.
Costner claims fixed delays sparked chaos in his schedule and hit again at claims about his work ethic.
“I left my film Horizon to be on time for them for 5B,” Costner mentioned. “I left precisely after they wished, and it made it arduous on me. It seems they didn’t have the scripts for 5B. They wanted 4 extra days simply to finish the primary eight episodes. I left early to provide them what they wanted to have an entire eight, and I felt unhealthy that the viewers didn’t get 10. They didn’t have the scripts for anything.”
He continued: “So, what you learn ultimately was that I mentioned, ‘Effectively, look, I’m doing my film. In order for you me to work per week since you wish to kill me or no matter else, I can provide you per week.’ I actually didn’t have that week to provide them, however I mentioned, I’ll do this. After which they [spun that] into, I solely wished to work per week.”
“Do you suppose that’s who I’m? I’ve by no means missed a day of labor. I’ve by no means left earlier than fulfilling my contractual obligations. A variety of occasions, I keep as a lot as I can.”
Costner, who has confronted powerful criticism from followers over the present’s future, went on to share that he had been left “bothered” by the present’s alleged lack of help following his resolution to exit.
“They have been silent and that bothered me on the planet of the way you do issues,” he confessed. “Why don’t you stick up for me? I went and offered this factor for you. I used to be going to solely do one season. I made it for 3. I fulfilled three. So, I went from one to 3, then I did a fourth one for them, and so they wished to do three extra. So, I made the contract to try this.
They imploded. I had a contract to do 5, six and 7. I used to be contracted to try this. There’s nothing I might have achieved to get out of that, nor was I making an attempt to only work out how, after we began. [Production] didn’t have the scripts. They usually wrote these different three reveals,” he added, referencing the assorted Yellowstone spin-offs.
“They don’t ever discuss that. And all they did was bear in mind we have been releasing the sequence in June, then it moved to October. They lined by altering their launch sample. That point was a couple of 14-month interval. I mentioned, ‘I can’t ever undergo that once more, the place you shut down for over a yr and I don’t have one thing in line to do.’ All I did was shield myself, however I didn’t put myself in first place, over Yellowstone. I crammed the gaps. Do you see that?”
Regardless of the continued drama, Costner – whose four-part post-Civil Struggle drama Horizon premiered on the Cannes this month – added that he’s nonetheless “open” to returning sooner or later if the scenario proved potential.
Yellowstone season 5, half 2, will air on the Paramount Community in November 2024.