Despite creative disagreements, on-set tension and a salary dispute seemingly ruling him out of Yellowstone Season 5 Part 2, Kevin Costner leaves the door open for a return. The central character in the Western drama admits he’d “love” a return to close out the series.
Speaking with Entertainment Tonight, Costner addressed the possibility of returning for the final stretch of Yellowstone’s fifth and final season. Though he’s open to a Yellowstone comeback, the Academy Award winner admitted he’d have to feel “comfortable” with the creative direction to rejoin. “I’d like to be able to do it but we haven’t been able to … I thought I was going to make seven [seasons] but right now we’re at five. So how it works out — I hope it does — but they’ve got a lot of different shows going on. Maybe it will. Maybe this will circle back to me. If it does and I feel really comfortable with [it], I’d love to do it,” he said.
Costner’s comments follow a recent report suggesting he would be open to making a U-turn to return to Yellowstone following claims he would not return for Season 5 Part 2. However, one sticking point holding up a potential return for Costner surrounds the fate of his ranch-owning character, John Dutton. Costner reportedly has a contract clause dictating how John dies in Yellowstone, something series co-creator Taylor Sheridan objects to. Costner elaborated on the disagreement regarding John’s creative direction, saying “[Dutton] needs to be proactive in what happens and I’ve kind of had my own fantasy how [the character’s final arc] might be. But that’s Taylor’s thing. I said as much to him a while back. I had thoughts how it could happen, but we just have to see.”
Kevin Costner’s Return Is In The Air
Whether Costner can return remains doubtful considering filming for Season 5 Part 2 is expected to begin in Montana next month, with the premiere date for the final six episodes of the Western show reportedly slated for Nov. 10. With scripts completed and shooting set to start, accommodating Costner to creative plans at this stage could prove difficult.
Costner’s issues with Yellowstone first became public early last year, including accusations of having a big ego on set, scheduling conflicts and his fight for creative control with Sheridan. Costner later threatened legal action against Yellowstone following a salary dispute. The prominent actor has been a cornerstone for Yellowstone, earning a Best Actor Golden Globe for his work on the series.
Meanwhile, Costner is promoting his upcoming two-part Western film, Horizon: An American Saga, which he stars in and directed. The film, set during the American Civil War, will premiere at the Cannes Film Festival on May 19. An American Saga sees Costner star alongside Sam Worthington, Michael Rooker, Sienna Miller, Thomas Haden Church and Jena Malone.