Kevin Costner Breaks His Silence on the Yellowstone Conflict – The Hollywood Reporter

Kevin Costner set the record for the first time, telling his side about the months-long conflict with the hit show Yellowstone.

Costner testified at his divorce hearing on Friday, and the conversation touched on his finances through the Paramount Network series, which has become the most-watched drama on television.

according to the people (among other reports), the 68-year-old Golden Globe winner Yellowstone The star said he may take the offer to court to settle their differences. Costner claimed he owed $12 million for the second half of the yet-to-be-filmed fifth season after Paramount “pulled out” of negotiations.

“It’s a little disappointing [it’s the] Program No. 1 on TV [and] “I’m not involved,” said Costner, whose wife, Christine Baumgartner, filed for divorce in May. “Maybe I will go to court about this matter.”

Costner’s rep and Paramount rep had no comment.

Yellowstone It has been on hiatus since the first half of Season 5 that aired late last year. The reason for the delay was a bit murky, with sources from production blaming the actor’s busy schedule, sources from the actor’s camp claiming showrunner Taylor Sheridan has handled several projects, and Sheridan himself pointing to Paramount’s increasing demands for more content for its streaming service.

One factor is that Costner landed a deal to make his dream project, a four-part cinematic epic titled horizonwhich has already finished filming at least the first film, Horizon: An American Epic. Once the decision was made last year to split Yellowstone Costner said he rearranged his production schedule with the fifth season into two seasons horizon. But when he was ready to start filming, the scripts for the second half of the season weren’t ready. In May, Paramount surprised fans by announcing that the show would end with the second half of its fifth season.

Costner claimed he wanted to come back for the sixth season, but “I couldn’t help them anymore. We tried negotiating, they offered me less money than in previous seasons.” [and] There were problems with creativity.

in Hollywood ReporterIn Sheridan’s cover story, the showrunner gives his side of the matter.

The actor has asked to work fewer and fewer days Yellowstone The last few seasons to focus on his films, which frustrated producers, according to Sheridan.

“My last conversation with Kevin was that he had this passionate project that he wanted to direct,” said Sheridan, who is currently supporting the WGA strike. He and Grid were arguing about when it might be finished Yellowstone. I said, “We can definitely work on a schedule to make it happen.” [his preferred exit date]”Which we did.”

There are ongoing discussions to try to get Costner to shoot some scenes to encapsulate his character, though the scripts are not yet completed.

“My opinion of Kevin as an actor hasn’t changed,” Sheridan says. “His creation of John Dutton is symbolic and powerful…and I’ve never had a problem with Kevin where he and I couldn’t work over the phone. But once lawyers are involved, people can’t talk to each other and start saying things that aren’t true and trying to shift blame Depending on how the press or the public reacts. He’s taken a lot of this on the chin and I don’t know anyone who deserves it. His film seems like a big priority for him and he wants to shift the focus. I certainly hope [the movie is] Worth it – that’s a good thing.

“I’m disappointed,” Sheridan adds. “It cuts out the closure of his personality. It doesn’t change it, it cuts it.”

Sheridan hinted that John Dutton would never be around until the show’s finale, and the show’s conclusion Yellowstone It has not changed from the original movie script. However, Costner’s statements in court today indicated that – if Costner’s role did indeed end in Season 5 – that would have been a major cut, since the original plan apparently was for him to run for seven seasons.