Even though Yellowstone has officially ridden off into the sunset, the off-screen drama surrounding its final days keeps finding its way back into the headlines. Just a week after The Hollywood Reporter published an explosive exposé about the series’ behind-the-scenes turmoil, new details are surfacing about the alleged power struggle between Kevin Costner and creator Taylor Sheridan — and Wes Bentley has weighed in on what really happened on set.
Sources say Costner began to feel more distant from the cast as the seasons went on, while Sheridan — who wrote every episode himself — became the nucleus of production.
Wes Bentley Confirms Kevin Costner Fight
Among the most talked-about revelations from The Hollywood Reporter’s deep dive was an alleged disagreement between Costner and Wes Bentley, who played Jamie Dutton. A spokesperson for Bentley confirmed to THR that the two actors did have a “work-related argument during an emotional and physically tough scene,” but clarified that it “was discussed and resolved.”
Another source told Us Weekly that Bentley was “arguably the most friendly and laid back” member of the ensemble, saying, “By all accounts, he was great to work with and kind to people on set. I think he was happy to be there, for the most part.” When Costner officially left Yellowstone midway through Season 5 to focus on his own epic Western project, Horizon: An American Saga, speculation ran wild about bad blood between the actor and Sheridan. But Sheridan has consistently tried to put those rumors to rest.
“My opinion of Kevin as an actor hasn’t altered,” Sheridan told The Hollywood Reporter last year. “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.” He also dismissed the viral claim that he once told Costner to “stick to acting.”
“I never had that conversation with Kevin. 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 season 2 was deviating from that, and I don’t know that he was wrong. In season 3, we steered back into it.”
Costner would later go on to win a Golden Globe for his performance as John Dutton. Yellowstone is streaming now on Peacock.
