Follow us on Google News
Get the latest updates directly in your Google News feed
Time waits for no one. But for fans ofYellowstone, the opposite seems to be true. Time keeps pulling us back to Kevin Costner, even though he has long left the ranch behind. The show’s popularity may have soared, but there’s one thing that still lingers in the air, like the scent of sagebrush: the unmistakable presence of Costner.
His departure has left a cloud hanging over the show. As the final season unfolds, rumors of what went wrong behind the scenes are floating, and it’s not just about who left but why. Denim Richards, who once played the lovable Colby, recently hinted about the tension that started long before Costner’s exit—and it paints a picture that’s less about creative differences and more about clashing egos.
Kevin Costner’s ‘humble’ admission at firstYellowstonetable read
As the Dutton family’s saga came to a close with theYellowstoneSeason 5 finale on Dec. 15, we’re not just left with stories of cattle drives and power plays; we’re left with poignant reflections from those who’ve shared in the journey.
Luke Grimes: ‘Some of the conflict was gone’ on Yellowstone ‘5B’, the Easiest Season to Film Because Kevin Costner Wasn’t Around
One of those voices is Denim Richards, who brought the character of Colby to life on the show. Though his character met a tragic end, the actor still keeps his connection to theYellowstoneworld alive through his YouTube series,Stories from the Bunkhouse,alongside his co-stars Ian Bohen and Jefferson White.
And, with the finale now behind us, Richards has taken the opportunity to reflect on what it was like to be part of such a groundbreaking show—and to be in the presence ofKevin Costner.
As Richards recalled the first table read forYellowstoneback in 2018, he paints a vivid picture of what it was like to sit among Hollywood icons. He told theNY Post:
Everyone is getting together and [Kevin Costner] walks in. He’s this massive presence, but so humble.
And it was Costner who struck a chord with everyone in the room. He spoke frankly, saying:
I don’t know about you guys, but I’m scared as hell. So why don’t we come together the best we can, and make this happen, and support each other.
Richards remembered how the tension evaporated after that moment:
You could feel the stress go out of the room. It was a beautiful thing. This is an Oscar-winning legend … whether or not he was really scared, who knows. But, it gave everyone this extra level of confidence that there’s no hierarchy.
Costner’s words brought a sense of unity, breaking down the walls between the cast members and reminding them that they were all equal in that shared venture.
Denim Richards suggests ego clash led to Kevin Costner’sYellowstonedeparture?
WithYellowstone’s success came rumors, speculation, and ultimately, the exit of Kevin Costner after the first half of Season 5. The official narrative was that the actor’s priorities lay elsewhere, with his focus shifting to the movieHorizon: An American Saga. But Denim Richards isn’t buying the headline version. He reflected (via NY Post):
Of course, you do what you can to try to silence any stuff from the outside. As you know, sometimes things will happen and then they don’t happen.
Richards also acknowledged that while gossip and leaks can fuel speculation, they rarely capture the entire picture of what’s really going on:
Things get leaked and talked about. It’s never always exactly what necessarily sometimes people see.
Richards emphasized Costner’s humility. In doing so, the former seems to suggest thatTaylor Sheridan’s pride may have played a key role in preventing Costner from returning as John Dutton, despite his monumental presence in the show.
Kevin Costner May Have Revealed Why Yellowstone Season 5B Is Ridiculously Bad After His Exit: “I left exactly when they wanted”
TheYellowstoneseries finale highlights how Sheridan’s writing has eroded John Dutton’s legacy,turning him into a mere foolinstead of the powerful, commanding figure he was intended to be. With the Season 5 finale having aired on Dec. 15, fans are left to wonder how the show will evolve without its iconic patriarch and what lies ahead for the Dutton family saga.
Yellowstoneis streaming on Paramount+.
Siddhika Prajapati
Senior Journalist & Content Head
Articles Published :3310
With over 3,300 articles carved into the digital walls of FandomWire, Siddhika Prajapati excels at creating, curating, and elevating engaging stories. She takes pride in giving these stories a home and, of course, she’s got a Google Knowledge Panel to prove it!Whether it’s reviewing the latest drop on Netflix, Amazon Prime, or Apple TV+, or analyzing the cultural echoes of a streaming hit on Paramount+ or Max, Siddhika is always writing three steps ahead of the discourse.
