While fans might find this answer a bit amusing, especially since Taylor Sheridan seems to share John Dutton’s (Kevin Costner) own disdain and distrust for lawyers, it does show that the “Yellowstone” creator is trying not to let these business matters get in the way of his principles or his admiration for Costner.
“My last conversation with Kevin was that he had this passion project he wanted to direct,” Sheridan explained. “He and the network were arguing about when he could be done with ‘Yellowstone.’ I said, ‘We can certainly work a schedule toward [his preferred exit date],’ which we did.”
The “Yellowstone” showrunner also said that he thought Costner was painted as the villain somewhat, and he disagreed with the treatment. “He took a lot of this on the chin, and I don’t know that anyone deserves it,” Sheridan went on. “His movie seems to be a great priority to him, and he wants to shift focus. I sure hope [the movie is] worth it — and that it’s a good one.”
As for how this all affects “Yellowstone” and John’s inevitable exit from the series, Sheridan did acknowledge that it could end up coloring the final result in Season 5, Part 2. “I’m disappointed. It truncates the closure of his character. It doesn’t alter it, but it truncates it,” he concluded.
