A report released on Monday indicated the hit Paramount show “Yellowstone” will be canceled after the conclusion of its fifth season.
This report, shared by the New York Post, comes in the wake of whispers that tensions have grown between lead actor Kevin Costner and show runner Taylor Sheridan. As Costner has reportedly butted heads with the executives at the network, fans have been left to wonder whether the hit western will continue to pump out its epic episodes. According to a source that shared information with the New York Post, Costner made an attempt to be available for filming but the scripts were not complete in time:
“Kevin’s been extremely cooperative with working with Taylor and his production company, 101 Studios. They were supposed to shoot the second chapter of Season 5 late last year, but they just didn’t have the scripts.”
“Taylor is overburdened and Kevin made himself available at the beginning of the year, but again, nothing was ready. Kevin had already committed to making his other movies. He had given the producers his schedule.
“In the entertainment industry, you can’t keep yourself in a holding pattern and available while the producers are not getting their act together with the scripts. There was nothing to shoot.”
The New York Post elaborated more on the growing disconnect between star actor and show runner, writing:
““It’s the same as with any showrunner and big star — there’s respect, but there’s friction,” a well-placed production source told The Post.”
“Meanwhile, a highly-placed Hollywood source who has worked with Sheridan confirmed there is an element of ego at play — but that it’s not necessarily Costner’s: “Taylor is the star of his show. He’s the most important person on all of his shows.””
The Post claims that this disconnect stems from show creator Taylor Sheridan’s growing ego, as the producer is finding success at a later stage of his career than he feels is deserved. Whether that is true or not remains to be seen. Another factor at play may be the fact that Paramount is looking to end the show at the end of the year, to focus more on spinoffs that could bolster the Paramount+ video streaming platform. The Daily Caller writes:
“Paramount apparently wants “Yellowstone” off the air within the year, the Hollywood source claimed. The network doesn’t have an exclusive deal with the show, unlike all of Sheridan’s other shows, so they want him focusing on just the shows that support their studio, one can assume from the source’s comments.”
Todd from The American Tribune wrote about the next phase of the “Yellowstone” universe, which likely will feature Matthew McConaughey as the lead star:
“The popular “Yellowstone” franchise is moving forward with its Matthew McConaughey spin-off, show creators confirmed during a recent interview. Regardless of what happens with Kevin Costner, Paramount is keen on exploring yet another story in the universe, which already includes 1883 and 1923.
“Paramount Media Networks President and CEO Chris McCarthy told The Hollywood Reporter in a story published Tuesday that McConaughey’s untitled show was one of ten that he and Yellowstone creator Taylor Sheridan had in the pipeline.”
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