Yellowstone, the popular TV show on the Paramount Network, has garnered a loyal fanbase and great viewership success. If the reports are to be believed, the fifth season of the show was the second most-watched TV show in 2021, trailing only behind football. However, Kevin Costner had plans to pass on his coveted role in the series.
Besides, the new spin-off series from Yellowstone has also managed to break through in terms of popularity. 1883, a prequel to Yellowstone, became the biggest series premiere on cable since 2015. Similarly, 1923, starring Harrison Ford and Helen Mirren, is highly rated on Rotten Tomatoes.
Kevin Costner Almost Turned Down Yellowstone Role
It would be hard to imagine any other actor in Kevin Costner’s commanding role in Yellowstone. During an interview with Entertainment Weekly, the Oscar-winning actor and filmmaker admitted that initially, he wasn’t sure about accepting the role in the Paramount series after the first pitch.
The actor expressed that he was under the impression of making a single extended movie that would run for 10 hours. He also asserted his familiarity with lengthy projects in the past.
Costner told ET:
“I thought we were going to do one long movie — 10 hours. So I’m down with long. I understand long really well.”
After Costner realized that Taylor Sheridan wanted to make Yellowstone into a series, the actor was forced to reconsider the role offer.
Costner added:
“I have my own internal reasons why I ended up doing it, but ultimately, there’s that window of opportunity … [where] you gotta jump creatively, and so I did that. I’m happy for the show and everyone in it,”
Costner eventually said yes to the part of John Dutton on Yellowstone, although he stayed mum about what convinced him to accept the role.
Kevin Costner Made Headlines For Quitting The Show
Kevin Costner made headlines when rumors of his potential exit from the show started doing rounds. Portraying the lead role of John Dutton in Taylor Sheridan’s Western hit show, Costner managed to captivate the audience. This caused a stir among fans who were eager to know the reason behind his exit from Yellowstone.
Early this year, rumors started surfacing that Costner would be leaving the show, leading to concerns among fans about whether the actor will be seen in the final episodes of the series. Amid the uncertainties, fans have been left wondering about the reasons behind the actor’s decision to quit the show.
If rumors are to be believed, Costner was busy with the filming of his movie Horizon: An American Saga. Moreover, there have been reports that the actor had a rift with Taylor Sheridan. However, Costner finally addressed the rumors and confirmed his exit from the show, citing scheduling conflicts.