Well, there’s no question that the creative partnership of Taylor Sheridan and Kevin Costner is the driving force behind Yellowstone, painting a modern Western saga that has lassoed the hearts of millions of viewers. Like a cowboy perfectly in sync with his trusty horse, the duo has galvanized the spirit of the rugged American frontier.
But in recent months, both have stirred up quite the storm, finding themselves in the eye of a public feud. This brouhaha centers around Costner’s dramatic departure from the show, which has sparked a heated clash between the two celebrities. But did you know that long before his feud with Costner, Sheridan’s journey was peppered with the steely determination to collaborate with the Oscar-winning actor?
Before Yellowstone & Feud: Taylor Sheridan’s Quest to Collaborate with Kevin Costner
If you’ve been living under a rock for the past few years, it’s time to crawl out and discover the masterpiece that is Yellowstone. This neo-western series has taken the world by storm, and at the heart of this show are two remarkable individuals: Taylor Sheridan and Kevin Costner.
Their partnership between Sheridan and Costner is like a well-oiled machine, each complementing the other’s strengths. Thus, it is very evident that the former might have had a burning desire to work with Costner long before their feud came into existence.
In 2018, as the Paramount Network series was gearing up to make its grand entrance, Sheridan and Costner sat down with Collider to chew the fat about their then-ambitious project. The former confessed that he didn’t set out with a grand plan to pen a Western about the vanishing American frontier. Instead, he described how the story seemed to find him, almost as if it had its own voice, gently whispering in his ear until he could no longer ignore it.
Sheridan mused:
To me, looking at the modern American West is a really great way to look at ourselves.
In their conversation, Sheridan also shed light on how he roped in two-time Oscar winner Kevin Costner to star in Yellowstone. The former’s admiration for the Dances with Wolves director was tangible, as he recounted his lifelong fandom of Costner’s work. To quote the 1883 creator:
I’d been a fan of Kevin’s work my whole life. Just the chance to sit down with someone you’ve admired was a great honor. I was really hungry to find something to do with him, and I had the idea for this show. I wrote the pilot and sent it to him.
The script hit the mark. Costner, who was as enthusiastic as a kid in a candy store, fell head over heels for the material.
Yellowstone: The Strained Relationship of Kevin Costner & Taylor Sheridan
The recent spat between Kevin Costner and Taylor Sheridan has become the talk of Tinseltown. It’s no secret that both have been butting heads behind the scenes.
The heart of the matter seems to lie in a cauldron of creative differences and scheduling headaches. The Daily Mail reported that Sheridan’s ego might have inflated to sky-high proportions, creating friction on the set. It’s been said that Sheridan developed a “God complex,” strutting around like he was on a divine mission.
Like two bulls locking horns, these two powerhouses seem unwilling to back down. Moreover, per the outlet, the spark that ignited this feud was Costner’s growing unease with the show’s new direction:
He just felt like the show was drifting off course from its original vision.
But it’s not just the creative differences that are throwing a wrench into the gears. The scheduling drama has added more fuel to the fire. Last year, in February, Deadline reported that Costner asked for a week’s break to wrap up the latter part of Yellowstone Season 5. This request reportedly didn’t sit well with Sheridan or the Paramount Network.
Adding another twist to the tale, a source talking to The New York Post in April 2023, hinted that Sheridan’s jam-packed schedule might be a major roadblock. The insider claimed:
Kevin’s been as cooperative as a well-trained horse working with Taylor and his production company, 101 Studios. They were supposed to shoot the second half of Season 5 late last year, but the scripts just weren’t ready.
With Sheridan juggling multiple Paramount projects like 1883, 1923, Mayor of Kingstown, and the forthcoming The Madison, it’s no wonder the scheduling has turned into a juggling act worthy of a circus.
Yellowstone Season 5’s second part will air on November 10, 2024.
Stream Yellowstone on Paramount+.
