Kevin Costner has been on a real rollercoaster of a career. He was a bankable star throughout the 1980s and 1990s, heading up movies like The Untouchables, JFK, The Bodyguard, and Field of Dreams. He also directed the ‘Best Picture’ winner Dances with Wolves and starred in it for good measure. Then there are the likes of Waterworld, The Postman, and, recently, Horizon: An American Saga. Public opinion on him seems to fluctuate all the time, with the jury still out on his career as a whole.
One project that encapsulates both sides of the Costner experience – which sounds like the worst cover band ever – is Yellowstone. Beginning in 2018, this Paramount TV show follows the lives of the Dutton family, who lives and runs a massive cattle ranch inside the titular National Park. Costner plays John Dutton III, the patriarch of the clan and the series’ main character. He received rave reviews for his performance and even netted a Golden Globe award for ‘Best Actor – Television Series Drama’.
Unfortunately, the good times on the ranch were not to last. It was announced that Costner will be leaving the show midway through its fifth season. This immediately sparked speculation that something was up. The show was due to end after season five, so why would its biggest star leave just before the big finale? As it turns out, Costner wasn’t happy with the conditions of the series, citing various creative and scheduling issues as his reason for leaving. His feud with Taylor Sheridan, co-creator of the show, became a goldmine for TV-based news sites.
It’s always good to get multiple sources on stories like this. Luke Grimes, who plays Costner’s character’s son Kayce on Yellowstone, spoke to Esquire about the sad situation. “Hopefully everyone can see that it was time,” he said, addressing Costner’s departure from the show. “To be really honest, there was a part of Kevin being gone that meant some of the conflict was gone. Obviously, it didn’t make it super fun to be around. Not pointing any fingers, but it was actually the easiest season we’ve filmed.”
Grimes, who also appeared in American Snipes and the Fifty Shades trilogy, was also reported in a feud with Costner while they were working together. He revealed to Men’s Health that the two hadn’t spoken since the latter left the show. “It’s not a case of any hard feelings or anything; it’s just, he’s Kevin Costner. He’s a big deal,” he said. “I do have his phone number – I just don’t feel like it’s my place to reach out. He can reach out to me if he wants to.”
Leaving the Yellowstone orbit is not a career decision one should take lightly. Not only is the show itself a massive deal, but it’s spawned several successful spin-offs. The first prequel series, 1883, was a miniseries that aired in 2021, whereas 1923 introduced Harrison Ford and Helen Mirren into the fold. Several other offshoots are currently in the pipeline, as the Yellowstone legacy looks set to continue for quite some time.
As it stands, Costner could still return to the show and make things right. He seems to have burned a lot of bridges with the series, which is such a shame, as his star power helped launch Yellowstone and put it on the path to TV dominance it is on today.
