The producer of the television series, “Yellowstone,” is facing a lawsuit from “Yellowstone” star Kevin Costner who claims he is still owed money from the show. On Friday, when taking the witness stand in a Santa Barbara courtroom, the actor publicly discussed his falling out with the popular Paramount Network series for the first time.
During a hearing for child support as part of his divorce from his wife Christine Baumgartner, Costner brought up the “Yellowstone” feud. Costner, whose upcoming departure from “Yellowstone” was originally revealed in February, voiced irritation at not being allowed to stay on the series, according to People magazine and other reporters who attended the proceedings.
Due to his shooting schedule, which has resulted in him being available for less days as the show has gone on, it was speculated at the time that Costner might end his role as John Dutton on the series. But on Friday, Costner revealed that filming for the first episode of “Yellowstone” Season 5 “changed” his schedule, requiring him to divert attention from his own four-part film trilogy, which begins with “Horizon: An American Saga.”
However, a “pay or play” condition and the lack of scripts for the second half of Season 5 meant that Costner should have still been paid $12 million (just as he should have been for the first half). When asked if he would receive his pay for the second half of Season 5, according to People, Costner responded, “I will probably go to court over it.” He claimed that the Season 5 split, the result of a “long, hard-fought negotiation,” was what caused him to leave.
Regarding the speculation of his potential comeback for Season 6, Costner said, “I’ve been told it’s a little disappointing that [it’s] the #1 show on TV, I’m not participating,” according to People.
I was unable to continue to assist them. There were concerns with the creative, and despite our attempts to negotiate, they gave me less money than in previous seasons. Last but not least, Costner claims that “Yellowstone,” which was produced by Paramount Global’s MTV Entertainment Studios & 101 Studios, with Taylor Sheridan serving as executive producer, walked away when he suggested what he recalls to be $12 million to return. Costner was one of the highest-paid performers in episodic TV in 2022, according to a Variety study.
MTV Entertainment Studios and Costner’s lawyers were contacted by Variety, but both parties either declined to comment or did not respond.
The last episodes of “Yellowstone” will air in November, according to a May announcement from Paramount. (Of course, with the WGA and SAG-AFTRA strikes, that timetable is no longer feasible.) An unannounced sequel series has been ordered, the company added, and it will premiere on Paramount Network before moving on to Paramount+. (Again, the timing for it was originally scheduled for December; it is currently TBD.) It was anticipated that Matthew McConaughey would play the lead in a new series that would include various “Yellowstone” characters.
“‘Yellowstone’ has been the cornerstone on which we have launched an entire universe of global hits — from ‘1883’ to ‘Tulsa King,’ and I am confident our ‘Yellowstone’ sequel will be an additional big hit, thanks to the outstanding creative mind of Taylor Sheridan as well as our incredible casts who bring these shows to life,” president & CEO of Showtime, Chris McCarthy, and MTV Entertainment Studios, said at the time.