The future of *Yellowstone* might have taken an unexpected turn.
Taylor Sheridan’s popular series is currently scheduled to end prematurely later this year with the second half of its fifth season, following lead actor Kevin Costner’s decision to leave the show.
Originally, it was suggested that Costner’s departure was due to scheduling conflicts with his five-part Western project, *Horizon – An American Saga*. However, Costner has since strongly disputed this claim.
When the initial report about Costner’s exit from *Yellowstone* emerged, it was mentioned that the series might continue through a new sequel show featuring several returning cast members.
But according to Variety, *Yellowstone* could potentially continue in its current form, though without Costner. Sources indicate that Kelly Reilly and Cole Hauser are in discussions to become the new lead actors. In the series, Reilly plays Beth Dutton, the daughter of Costner’s character, John Dutton III, and Hauser portrays Beth’s husband, Rip Wheeler.
The Independent has reached out to Paramount for a comment.
Costner will not be appearing in the concluding segment of *Yellowstone*’s fifth season, which is set to premiere in November. Earlier this year, Costner revealed his actual reason for leaving the show.
Addressing reports that he had a falling out with Sheridan over scheduling conflicts due to his desire to work on his Western franchise, Costner claimed that production on *Yellowstone* was repeatedly delayed despite his readiness to film.
“I did it for five years, and I wanted to work more than once a year,” Costner told the Today Show in June. “We lost an entire year at one point, and I thought, that can’t happen again.” He added, “It was well over a year. I thought I have to be in a position to make things happen. Material has to be ready at certain times, and we weren’t able to do that. After five years, I thought, I’m not going to do this. If we can get that, we can do that, and I’ll do it.”
Costner expressed a desire to return to *Yellowstone*, but only “under the right circumstances.” He stated, “I’ve supported that thing and I’ve loved it. It’s been really important to me. I would love to go back under the right circumstances. I think that’s what all of us want. At this point, for me, it really needs to be the right circumstances.”
He also mentioned feeling disappointed that the show’s production team “didn’t stick up for him” when media reports blamed him for the show’s premature end.
