The drama surrounding Kevin Costner's departure from Paramount Network's hit show Yellowstone took a major turn this week when the actor finally shed light on some of the complicated negotiations that took place. While testifying during a child support hearing amid his ongoing divorce from estranged wife Christine Baumgartner, Costner revealed that a "long, hard-fought negotiation" about the decision to split Season 5 into two parts was the driving factor behind his decision to leave the show.
Costner explained that the studio's decision to split Season 5 into two parts, impacted his ability to direct his own Western epic, Horizon: An American Saga. Costner is also starring in and producing the four-part movie series.
“Somewhere along the line, they wanted to change things,” Costner said. “They wanted to do 5A and 5B; [it] affected Horizon. I was going to do my movie Horizon and leave that show, do my movie, then do B. A show I was only doing once a year I was now doing twice.”
The decision to split Yellowstone into two parts caused Cosnter to have to change his movie schedule. "That's a big deal in this world," he said.
Although scheduling was a big part of his decision to leave the series, it wasn't the only factor. Compensation and creative differences also played a part in his decision.
"We did negotiate," he explained. "There were issues about creative. I tried to break the log jam. They walked away."
The 68-year-old actor noted he was offered $24 million to do Season 5, 6, and 7 before it was ultimately canceled. However, there's a bit of confusion surrounding that number as it's reported he was set to receive $12 million for each part of Season 5. When asked if he will receive payout from the second part of Season 5, which has not yet begun filming, Costner acknowledged, "I'll probably go to court over it."
“I’ve been told it’s a little disappointing that [it’s] the #1 show on TV, I’m not participating,” he added.
Paramount officially announced that Yellowstone will officially end after the completion of Season 5. The original series will be followed by a franchise sequel that will likely star Matthew McConaughey. There's also another spin-off series in the works, 6666, which “takes place when Comanches still ruled West Texas and no ranch in America is more steeped in the history of the West than the 6666.”