It looks like fans are about to see the final days of Kevin Costner in the hit series Yellowstone. The vet actor reportedly wants to leave the show and may get replaced by Matthew McConaughey.
Sources claimed Costner is having disagreements over shooting schedules. But there are claims that after agreeing to do a 65-day shoot for the first half of Yellowstone Saison 5, downing it to 50 days a little later, he now wanted to do the second part for just one week, causing a rift.
The insiders told Deadline that the issue began due to alleged moral issues with fellow actors on the show. Aside from the 68-year-old, the series also stars Luke Grimes, Kelly Reilly, Wes Bentley, Cole Hauser, Kelsey Asbille, and Gil Birmingham.
So to clear the issue, a Paramount Network spokesperson gave an official statement to The Post to shut down the rumors. The spokesman said they had no news to report, stressing Costner was a big part of the series and hoped it would continue for a long time.
The rep thanked the Yellowstone creator, Taylor Sheridan, for working on franchise expansions of the incredible western world he had built. McConaughey’s name was then mentioned, saying he was a phenomenal talent with whom the network would love to work.
Elsewhere, last year, Costner told Variety he was sucked in as soon as he read the show’s pilot, seeing the dialogue had a fun and realistic approach. He called it raw and dysfunctional, set against the backdrop of mountains, rivers, valleys, and people on horseback, which made it more appealing.
The first part of Yellowstone Saison 5 ended with eight episodes in January. The second part is set to be out in the summer, though there are no words yet on when it will officially be released.
The show has instantly become a big hit since its debut in 2018, becoming one of the most-watched series in the U.S. The fifth saison’s premiere episode alone had an average of 16 million viewers.
It also spawns multiple spinoffs, making it a huge franchise, with the prequel series 1883, which premiered in December 2021, and 1923, which dropped in December 2022, featuring Helen Mirren and Harrison Ford. A second show titled 6666 will also come, exploring the history of the Four Sixes Ranch, where Jimmy Hurdstrom (Jefferson White) has been working on Yellowstone. Meanwhile, Costner is yet to break his silence about the issue.