Kevin Costner will not be returning to Yellowstone after Season 5

television

by Brock Steinberg

May 3, 2023 | 2:58 p.m

The rumors may be true: Kevin Costner will not be returning to Yellowstone, according to a new report.

Sources close to the show’s production told Entertainment Tonight that Costner, 68, will not be returning after the fifth season.

The outlet also reports that there’s still no update on when the cast and crew will finish filming the remainder of Season 5’s episodes and head back to Montana, where the series is filmed — leading to confusion and frustration with the show’s cast, who also star. Luke Grimes, Kelly Riley, Wes Bentley, Cole Hauser, Kelsey Aspel and Jill Birmingham.

The Post has reached out to representatives for Costner and Paramount for comment.

Reports of Costner’s exit come amid alleged behind-the-scenes drama between actor and series co-creator Taylor Sheridan, 52.

Deadline reported in February that Costner had disagreements about filming schedules, and had allotted himself 65 days to film the first part of the series’ current fifth season — but only wanted to shoot for 50 days.

When it came time to film the second part of the season, Costner reportedly only wanted to take one week off filming, which caused tensions with the cast and crew.

However, a Paramount spokesperson shut down the rumors and told The Post, “We have no news to report. Kevin Costner is a big part of Yellowstone, and hopefully that will be the case for a long time to come.”

In April, co-star Dawn Olivieri, 42, hinted at Costner’s exit in an interview with the Daily Mail, saying, “Sometimes we have to come to grips with the fact that nothing is forever, that impermanence is the only thing we can count on, and that Life is like that.”

Meanwhile, a production source told The Post last month, “It’s the same as with any major model and star — there’s respect, but there’s friction.”

Speculation grew when Sheridan, Costner, and the other “Yellowstone” stars were notably absent from the PaleyFest panel in Hollywood, even though they were bound to appear at the April Press junket.

Keith Cox, Paramount Network’s president of development and production, attended and said the network was “very confident that (Costner) will continue to show us.”

News of Costner’s alleged exit comes just one day after his wife, handbag designer Christine Baumgartner, filed for divorce after 18 years of marriage.

“It is with great sadness that circumstances beyond his control have resulted in Mr. Costner being compelled to participate in the annulment proceeding,” Costner’s representative confirmed to the newspaper. “We ask that his privacy and that of Kristen and their children be respected as they navigate this difficult time.”

“Yellowstone” now has several spin-offs, including “1883,” starring Sam Elliott, Tim McGraw, and Faith Hill; “1923” with Harrison Ford and Helen Mirren; next “6666”; Another yet-to-be-named Vinov stars Matthew McConaughey.

Costner plays tough Montana patriarch John Dutton on the show and won a Golden Globe for the role.