Kevin Costner, ‘Yellowstone’ leads drop out of PaleyFest last minute fueling speculation of his exit
Posted April 3, 2023 by: Admin
Yellowstone fans were left disappointed when the main cast failed to show up at PaleyFest, the nation’s premier TV festival, on Saturday night. Despite being listed as attending the special screening and Q&A, Kevin Costner, Kelly Reilly, Cole Hauser, Luke Grimes, Kelsey Asbille, Wes Betley, Gil Birmingham, and Jacki Weaver were all absent. This has only fueled rumors that Costner’s future on the hit show is in doubt, especially since only Josh Lucas, who plays a younger John Dutton, and three other minor cast members attended the event.
Fans were also left in the dark about the back half of Season 5, which has not yet been filmed, despite Yellowstone’s immense popularity. Although Mo Brings Plenty, one of the minor cast members, promised fans that what’s to come is “mind-blowing and wonderful,” he confirmed that production has yet to begin. This has surprised many fans, especially since the show’s Season 5 premiere broke records and the midseason finale in January left fans wanting more.
In February, rumors surfaced that the show’s creator, Taylor Sheridan, and Paramount were considering taking Yellowstone in a new direction without Costner due to disagreements over shooting schedules. This was a shocking report since the Western drama is the most-watched show across cable and broadcast, and Costner won a Golden Globe award for Best Actor in a TV Drama earlier this year for his portrayal of John Dutton.
While Keith Cox, the president of development and production at Paramount Network, was “very confident” that Costner would return, the studio has made contingency plans. Matthew McConaughey will star in a Yellowstone spinoff, regardless of whether Costner returns.
Regarding the question of whether the show can go on without Kevin Costner, Josh Lucas theorized that Costner’s character could get killed off. He believes that “people die and horses die” in the show, and it’s just the evolution of what the ranch is. Moniz, who plays a love interest to Costner’s Dutton, praised Sheridan’s writing but somewhat dodged the question of whether the show could continue without Costner.
As for what’s next with the original series, millions of fans will just have to wait and see. Despite the disappointment at PaleyFest, Yellowstone remains a hugely popular show, and fans are eagerly awaiting the rest of Season 5.
