Finally, they get into the saddle.
On Monday, Paramount Network announced that “Yellowstone” had begun production in Montana and that episodes were expected to be released in November – just as star Kevin Costner’s new film, “Horizon,” is being slammed by critics, with a rating 27.% off Rotten Tomatoes.
Variety called Costner’s film “meandering” and said it “rarely seems to aim in a clear direction”, while IndieWire wrote: “They’re not so much characters as spokes of a plot in form human, each of their plots moving as follows. if it were horse-drawn throughout the American West.
Costner left “Yellowstone” to work on this exciting film project, with rumors flying in his wake. “Horizon” debuted at the Cannes Film Festival this weekend and will hit theaters on June 28.
For “Yellowstone,” it will be the second half of season 5 and will include the series finale. Production went on a long hiatus, filled with behind-the-scenes drama and allegations of feuding that star Costner is finally breaking his silence on.
Created by Taylor Sheridan, “Yellowstone” follows wealthy and powerful rancher John Dutton (Costner) and his adult children: Kayce (Luke Grimes), Jamie (Wes Bentley) and Beth (Kelly Reilly), as well as his son-in-law and Beth. husband, Rip Wheeler (Cole Hauser).
The show has been off the air for a year and a half, with the first part of the fifth and final season premiering in November 2022.
News of “Yellowstone” resuming production came on the same day as a new Costner interview with GQ, in which he aired his grievances with the series.
Costner told the outlet that his issues with “Yellowstone” boiled down to the fact that he wanted to work and felt “stuck.”
“We very rarely started when we said we would and didn’t finish when we said we would,” he said of the series’ filming schedule.
“And I was OK with that. I really was. That suited me, but it wasn’t a trend that could last for me. He felt like he was missing out on other work opportunities and said he couldn’t set a timetable for his epic western film “Horizon,” which he stars in, directs and co-writes.
Costner said he was so committed to “Yellowstone” that he renegotiated his initial three-season contract for up to seven seasons. But, amid COVID, the writers’ strike and various other reasons for production delays, he said he’s spending time waiting.
After “Yellowstone” floated the idea of splitting the show’s fifth season into two parts, a season 5A and a season 5B, “their big plan was to suddenly do eight every once in a while, then at fall, to do eight more,” Costner said.
“I said, ‘I have a contract to do ‘Horizon’ and I have people and money. I think people thought I couldn’t ride it, but I really didn’t care what anyone else believed.
The “Dances with Wolves” star and director said he was always willing to work with “Yellowstone” to find solutions, but “the scripts never came.” They still haven’t shot him. For all I know. The scripts never arrived. And then at one point they told me we didn’t have an ending or anything.
Costner said he suggested killing off his character.
“If you want to do something like that,” I said, “I have a week before I start.” I’ll do what you want to do,'” he told GQ, while the outlet noted that a Paramount spokesperson refuted Costner’s account.
According to Costner, after negotiations, he was willing to help “Yellowstone” bring his character arc to an end.
“And someone came up with the idea that I only wanted to work for a week. And that’s one thing I saw in magazines: I only wanted to work for a week.
Costner was referring to how, in May 2023, news broke that Costner would not be returning to “Yellowstone” after season 5. The same month, it was announced that the series would end with season 5, leading to speculation that the series would end in part because Costner was leaving.
There were also reports that Costner refused to participate in filming for over a week for the second half of season 5, which Costner’s lawyer denied.
Costner also denied this to GQ and Deadline last week.
A spokesperson for Paramount Network told GQ: “Kevin played an important role in the success of ‘Yellowstone.’ Although we had hoped to continue working with him, we unfortunately did not find a window that suited him, all the other talent, and our production needs to move forward together. We respect that Kevin has prioritized his new film series and wish him the best.
Last week, Costner told Deadline, “I got beat up by these fucking guys,” referring to the producers of “Yellowstone.”
“I haven’t had to respond to slingshots and arrows in the last year and a half because I was just busy working. They were quite adept at keeping their hands free; no one was ever recorded.
The “Field of Dreams” star said “Yellowstone” was “top of the list” on his priority list. “I didn’t do ‘Horizon’ because I was tired of doing ‘Yellowstone.’ It’s a bullshit story. I didn’t make “Horizon” to compete with “Yellowstone.” This (project) is something I’ve had for a long time,” he said.
The “Waterworld” star said he hasn’t “felt well the last year,” and added that ongoing speculation about what’s happening “isn’t true.”
The actor told the outlet, “I was honest with (Sheridan) and he said what we were going to do, and I believed him and we didn’t get there.”
So it appears that Costner will not be involved in the final portion of the “Yellowstone” episodes currently being filmed.
But he told Deadline that despite the tensions, he wasn’t against the idea of returning.
“If the writing is there and I’m happy with it, I’m open to that. But I was criticized that these guys weren’t speaking for me and were letting crazy stories come out,” he said.
“I’m not happy about this. But if the writing is there, I will be there too. It’s as simple as this: Paramount and 101 Studios handled this poorly.