Kevin Costner has finally opened up about his departure from his hit show Yellowstone. This revelation comes amid his divorce from his estranged wife, Christine Baumgartner.
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It’s been a tumultuous year for Kevin Costner. The star found himself in a very public and messy divorce with his former wife, Christine Baumgartner, and then later exited his hugely successful show, Yellowstone. Costner had made the decision to remain silent about his departure from the show, leading many fans to speculate that he had been ousted from the project. However, Costner has now finally clarified the situation. Here’s what he had to say.
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Kevin Costner Unveils the Motive Behind His Exit from Yellowstone
On Friday, the actor testified during a child support hearing in Santa Barbara, California, as part of ongoing divorce proceedings with his estranged wife, Christine Baumgartner. While giving his testimony, he disclosed that his departure from the Paramount Network series was inspired by a “long, difficult conversation” regarding the division of shooting for Season 5 into two separate parts.
Costner explained that his personal western saga, “Horizon: An American Saga,” which required his commitment, didn’t align well with filming Yellowstone twice a year. He stressed, ‘It’s quite a demand in this contemporary era.”
The 68-year-old revealed that there was no full script for the second part of Season 5, and even the first part was not entirely completed at the time. He opted for a “pay or play” arrangement, which ultimately proved unsuccessful, and he was contracted to receive $12 million for each section of Season 5. He testified, “I can’t help them now. We tried to talk, they offered me less money compared to the previous season, there were some creative issues…”
Yellowstone Creators Speak Openly About Kevin Costner Departure
In June, Yellowstone creator Taylor Sheridan expressed his disappointment with Costner’s decision to exit the Amazon Prime series. “In a conversation with The Hollywood Reporter, he expressed, ‘I find myself feeling let down.” It shortens the arc of his character. It doesn’t change it, but it shortens it.” In May, Paramount Network officially confirmed that Yellowstone would conclude after Season 5 Part II.
So, it seems that Costner’s departure from Yellowstone was primarily driven by scheduling conflicts and creative differences. Despite the challenges he faced, he remains a prominent figure in the entertainment industry, and fans can still look forward to his future projects.
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