Kevin Costner has clarified his departure from the popular TV series "Yellowstone," discarding previous rumors about his scheduling conflicts while filming his new movie "Horizon: An American Saga." In a recent interview with Deadline at the Cannes Film Festival, Costner stressed that his exit was not due to his directorial commitments on "Horizon," which has been 35 years in the making and is set to premiere at Cannes. He explained that he had managed to schedule "Horizon" filming during his off days from "Yellowstone." However, he alleged that the "Yellowstone" production team continually rescheduled, conflicting with his arrangements.
Costner also revealed inconsistencies in his contract negotiations, mentioning that after agreeing to continue for seasons five, six, and seven of "Yellowstone," the terms were suddenly changed to seasons five A and five B, with a provisional season six. He expressed frustration over the lack of support from the "Yellowstone" team when faced with accusations of being unavailable for filming, highlighting that there were times he prioritized the show only to find there was no script available.
Despite his contentious departure and the subsequent hiatus from filming "Yellowstone," which lasted 14 months due to script unavailability, Costner expressed willingness to return to the series if conditions align, emphasizing his commitment to fulfilling contractual obligations and his readiness to return if the writing supports it. The actor’s comments reveal ongoing tensions and a complex situation that contributed to his unexpected exit from the show.