Everyone’s favourite on-screen drama, Yellowstone, is apparently just as chaotic off screen, according to new reports.
ICYMI, Yellowstone follows a family of ranchers in Montana—the Duttons—headed up by Kevin Costner’s character, John Dutton. The first four seasons of the cowboy drama have followed the family as they navigate crime, corruption, and land control, all while running the United States’ largest contiguous cattle ranch.
But now it seems the behind the scenes of the hit show isn’t too different from the plot, with rumours of real-life conflict threatening the future of the series. Below, everything we know about the unfolding drama.
Will There Be Another Season Of Yellowstone?
Rumours of real-life drama first arose in February 2023, when it was alleged that the show’s creator, Taylor Sheridan, wanted to end Yellowstone, and continue the Dutton family’s story in a franchise extension starring Matthew McConaughey.
According to Deadline, Sheridan first moved to end the show in its current form due to scheduling disagreements involving lead actor, Kevin Costner.
A source allegedly told Deadline that Costner was only willing to shoot for 50 days for the first part of the current season, after originally agreeing to shoot for 65 days. And for the second half of season five, Costner reportedly only wanted to spend a week shooting.
But Paramount Network set out to diffuse the rumours of any conflict, saying:
“We have no news to report. Kevin Costner is a big part of Yellowstone and we hope that’s the case for a long time to come. Thanks to the brilliant mind of Taylor Sheridan, we are always working on franchise expansions of this incredible world he has built. Matthew McConaughey is a phenomenal talent with whom we’d love to partner.”
But despite this comment, Deadline reported that the network had declined Costner’s proposal, and were instead moving on to the McConaughey-led series.
A cast appearance at a TV festival in Los Angeles in April 2023 has fans believing there might be truth to the rumours of trouble in Montana.
The main cast and Sheridan were scheduled to appear in a panel and screening at PaleyFest on Saturday, however 30 minutes before the event was set to begin, it was revealed that the lead actors wouldn’t be making an appearance after all.
According to Variety, eager fans and media were told the cast wouldn’t be attending due to scheduling conflicts.
Fans were understandably disappointed, with one audience member tweeting, “Yeah as someone who paid over $100 a ticket I’m pretty fn pissed. Quite the bait and switch. People are walking out.”
Another fan shared in the frustration, writing, “No slight to the actors who were there, but @paleycenter should offer refunds for the @Yellowstoneprogram tonight. Not a single person, not one, who was listed to be there was actually there.”
Have The Yellowstone Cast Commented On The Alleged Drama?
Speaking to E! News at PaleyFest, Josh Lucas, who plays a young John Dutton, was optimistic that the show could survive without Kevin as its lead actor.
“I think the show shifts based on where Taylor [Sheridan]‘s energy is, where Taylor’s focus and his mind is. It’s a fever dream,” he told the outlet.
Dawn Olivieri, who joined the cast in season five as corporate shark Sarah Attwood, also commented on Costner’s rumoured departure, saying, “We don’t know anything. Nobody tells us anything. You think we’re in the know? We’re really not in the know at all.”
“I would be really bummed if I’m on the show and I don’t get a chance to work with him,” she added. “That would be a real sad day for me.”
Will Yellowstone Ever Return To Our Screens?
While there’s currently no release date for part two of season five, there are still six episodes yet to air. But whether the show will continue beyond it’s fifth season remains to be seen.
Rest assured, if the Duttons do leave our screens there’s plenty of Yellowstone spin offs currently streaming, including prequels 1883 and 1923, as well as a yet-to-be-released spinoff, 6666.
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