Kevin Costner is leaving ‘Yellowstone’ before the final season is over. Here’s a complete timeline of the behind-the-scenes drama.

Alongside the news that “Yellowstone” could be ending, Deadline also reported that the team behind the series was developing a franchise extension starring Matthew McConaughey after rejecting Costner’s latest attempt at a compromise over his shooting schedule.

It was reported at the time that the “True Detective” actor was still in the process of negotiations.

Speaking to Entertainment Weekly at SCAD TVFest in February 2023, just days after the report, Bentley said that fans have nothing to worry about.

“The news that’s come out recently about the show is, you know, it’s above my pay grade. Different people making decisions,” the “American Horror Story” actor said.

“I know that they’re still working on… working things out with everyone, to make sure we shoot. And I’m confident we will. We always have before. I think it’s probably a bit of drama over nothing.”

Speaking to Puck in February 2023, the actor’s litigator, Marty Singer, said the reports about his client were “ridiculous” but didn’t speak to what Costner’s future on the show looks like.

“The idea that Kevin was only willing to work one week on the second half of season five of ‘Yellowstone’ is an absolute lie,” he said.

“It’s ridiculous — and anyone suggesting it shouldn’t be believed for one second,” he continued. “As everyone who knows anything about Kevin is well aware, he is incredibly passionate about the show and has always gone way above and beyond to ensure its success.”

Ahead of the show’s panel on April 1, 2023, attendees were promised a special screening followed by a conversation and Q&A with the series’ main cast.

The original list of those who were supposed to be there included Costner, Sheridan, and executive producer David Glasser, as well as cast members Kelly Reilly, Cole Hauser, Luke Grimes, Kelsey Asbille, Wes Bentley, Gil Birmingham, and Jacki Weaver. 

However, in a last-minute shakeup that felt like an April Fools’ Day prank, the entire lineup changed with none of the original talent present.

Instead, Josh Lucas, Dawn Olivieri, Wendy Moniz, and Mo Brings Plenty sat on the panel with Paramount Network development president Keith Cox. 

Speaking to Yahoo on the red carpet ahead of the panel in April 2023, the cast in attendance confirmed that the second half of season five — which viewers were promised would air “this summer” — had not yet started filming, nor have they been given a start date or seen scripts.

“I have no news to report. I just know that Taylor’s writing, and we know he’s a prolific writer, and I’m excited to see it when it comes,” Moniz, who plays Lynelle Perry, said.

Plenty also confirmed that production had yet to begin, but said: “There’s some dates floating around.”

Just a day after ET’s explosive report, fans of the show got the news they were dreading: “Yellowstone” will indeed be coming to an end with its current fifth season, which will be making its return in November 2023.

However, the blow was softened by the news that a new untitled “Yellowstone” spinoff has been greenlit straight-to series and will premiere on Paramount Network and Paramount+ in December. Full casting for the series, it was promised, will be announced shortly.

Sharing the bittersweet news, Paramount exec Chris McCarthy said in a statement: “‘Yellowstone’ has been the cornerstone on which we have launched an entire universe of global hits – from ‘1883’ to ‘Tulsa King,’ and I am confident our ‘Yellowstone’ sequel will be another big hit, thanks to the brilliant creative mind of Taylor Sheridan and our incredible casts who bring these shows to life.”

David Glasser, CEO of 101 Studios, the production company behind the franchise, added: “The Dutton story continues, picking up where ‘Yellowstone’ leaves off in another epic tale.  We are thrilled to bring this new journey to audiences around the world.”

After the Writers Guild of America strike was called on May 2, 2023, Sheridan stopped script work on the upcoming episodes, he revealed to The Hollywood Reporter.

Two months later, it was announced that the American actors’ union, SAG-AFTRA, was going on strike over labor disputes with the Alliance of Motion Picture and Television Producers, essentially putting “Yellowstone” — along with countless other television shows — on an indefinite hiatus.

The combined Hollywood strikes have also delayed production on the second season of the prequel series, “1923,” and have put a pin in the development of the upcoming “Yellowstone” spinoff starring Matthew McConaughey.

According to a report from Puck’s Matthew Belloni published in September 2023, Costner’s producing partner, Rod Lake, flew to New York earlier this year to meet with Paramount executive Keyes Hill-Edgar to convince him to reverse course after the show’s ending (without Costner) was announced.

While both parties reportedly seemed open to the possibility — Sheridan, who had finished the remainder of season 5 without Costner in mind, even offered to rewrite the scripts to feature Costner’s character John Dutton — things soon deteriorated, per Belloni.

During a call with Sheridan, Costner reportedly made some aggressive demands of the showrunner and Paramount, including a higher salary, limited shooting schedule, and the right to potentially turn down any scripts from Sheridan that he didn’t like.

The actor reportedly even has a “moral death” clause in his “Yellowstone” contract, to ensure that his character John Dutton isn’t killed off in an embarrassing or awkward way. 

In May, Costner shared his side of the “Yellowstone” negotiations drama during an interview with Deadline, saying that previous reports about the situation weren’t “truthful.”

Costner accused Paramount and 101 Studios of mismanaging the situation and not sticking up for him when stories came out that he didn’t want to be on set.

Costner said he was initially contracted for seasons five, six, and seven, but the deal was renegotiated in February, though Costner did not specify which year.

“They wanted to redo that one, and instead of seasons six and seven, it was 5A and 5B, and maybe we’ll do six,” Costner said, seemingly referring to Paramount and 101 Studios.

Costner said he always made “Yellowstone” his “first priority,” but said the show kept moving shoot dates, which affected the schedule for his “Horizon” movies. 

Costner also hit back at reports that he was the reason for production delays last year. He said that during their shoots for season five, the crew wasn’t able to finish 10 episodes like they normally would, but it wasn’t his fault.

“I have taken a beating from those fucking guys, and I know a lot of times where it’s coming from. I just elected not to get into that,” Costner said, adding that reports that he only worked 43 days were “bullshit.” 

Costner added that he returned across three months to shoot season five, part two, but said the scripts weren’t ready, so they couldn’t shoot anything.

Costner said he offered them an extra week to sort out the script or what they would do with his character, but he said this was spun into the idea that he only wanted to work a week.

“Do you think that’s who I am? I’ve never missed a day of work. I’ve never left before fulfilling my contractual obligations,” Costner said. 

Costner also said he was inspired to start “Horizon” after Paramount and 101 Studios shut down a season for 14 months and “didn’t tell anybody” so he couldn’t work.

“I said, ‘I can’t ever go through that again, where you shut down for over a year and I don’t have something in line to do,'” Costner said. “I didn’t do Horizon because I was tired of doing Yellowstone. That’s a bullshit story. I didn’t do Horizon to compete with Yellowstone. This is something I’ve had a long time.”

Costner also said he was still open to returning to “Yellowstone” at this point.

A representative for Paramount did not immediately respond to a comment request from Business Insider.

On June 20, Paramount announced that the final episodes of “Yellowstone” will premiere on November 11 on Paramount+.

The same day, Costner said in an Instagram video that he won’t be returning to the series for these episodes.

“I just want to reach out and let you know that after this long year and a half of working on Horizon and doing all the things that’s required and thinking about Yellowstone, that beloved series that I love, that I know you love. I just realized that I’m not going to be able to continue, season 5b or into the future,” Costner said.

Costner added that he loved the show, and it “really changed” him.

“I love the relationships that I’ve been able to develop. And I’ll see you at the movies,” Costner said.

It appears the writers will have to find some way to end John Dutton’s story without Costner.