Major Feuds in Yellowstone History: From Brawls to Court Battles
Taylor Sheridan achieved remarkable success with the Yellowstone franchise, although the show has also sparked an unexpected number of offscreen conflicts.
This western drama, which debuted in 2018, depicted the tensions along the boundary of a vast cattle ranch and the Broken Rock Indian Reservation. Kevin Costner drew Us into the story with his portrayal of the Dutton family patriarch, but the tension didn’t solely reside on screen.
Initially, Yellowstone appeared set for a lengthy tenure on the Paramount Network; however, speculation about Costner’s future role put a halt to that. Both Costner and series creator Sheridan refuted claims of a feud, but Paramount Network confirmed in May 2023 that Yellowstone would conclude for good at the end of season 5. The surprises continued as Costner opted not to return for the latter half of the final season.
“Kevin has been a significant part of Yellowstone’s success,” a network spokesperson stated at the time. “While we had hoped to keep working with him, unfortunately, we couldn’t find a suitable window for him, other talent, and our production needs to align. We respect that Kevin has chosen to focus on his new film series, and we wish him the best.”
Costner, who redirected his efforts toward directing and acting in Horizon: An American Saga, affirmed his decision to move forward.
“It wasn’t tough,” he shared with The Hollywood Reporter in June 2024. “It was a necessary choice to say, ‘Hey, I don’t wish to discuss this any longer. It’s time to move on.’”
He elaborated: “I dedicated five seasons to this. I enjoyed it immensely. And I have no interest in unnecessary drama. Let’s eliminate that drama, let’s clear the air. The fans have treated me remarkably well, and my obligation is to continue creating meaningful content for them.”
Later that year, Yellowstone concluded with Costner’s character being killed off, allowing his former co-stars Cole Hauser, Kelly Reilly, and Luke Grimes to continue exploring stories within the Yellowstone universe, along with spinoffs featuring new cast members.
Scroll down to revisit the most significant offscreen conflicts within the Yellowstone universe:
Taylor Sheridan vs. Kevin Costner
In 2023, Paramount confirmed that Yellowstone would indeed wrap up — for good — at the end of season 5. Speculation arose around a potential rift between Kevin Costner and Taylor Sheridan regarding the show’s direction. Sheridan, however, vehemently denied the claims of discord with Costner.
“My opinion of Kevin as an actor hasn’t changed,” Sheridan told The Hollywood Reporter in 2023. “His portrayal of John Dutton is iconic and impactful … and I’ve never encountered an issue with Kevin that we couldn’t resolve over the phone.”
Nonetheless, Sheridan hinted that his relationship with Costner was not as close following his exit.
“Once lawyers enter the equation, communication breaks down, leading to misunderstandings and misplaced blame,” he remarked. “He weathered a lot of this, and I’m not sure anyone deserves it. [Horizon] seems to be a significant focus for him, and I hope it proves worthwhile — and that the film is exceptional.”
Costner also discussed the breakdown in communication, stating to Deadline in 2024 that he would have gladly returned for the latter half of Yellowstone’s final season if the scripts had been ready. “I was upfront with [Sheridan], and he indicated what we would do, and I trusted him, but we didn’t reach that point,” he noted.
Cole Hauser vs. Taylor Sheridan
Us Weekly reported in December 2023 that Taylor Sheridan’s Bosque Ranch had filed a lawsuit against Cole Hauser’s coffee venture, Free Rein, for trademark infringement, unfair competition, and false advertising.
The lawsuit sought to halt Hauser’s use of the Free Rein brand and demanded the destruction of all related products, marketing, and promotional materials. Bosque Ranch also claimed that Free Rein was allegedly causing “irreparable damage” to Sheridan’s business, requesting “compensatory damages.”
Hauser did not respond to the lawsuit, and a month later, Sheridan’s legal team moved to have the case dismissed.
Following the news of the lawsuit, statements from Hauser regarding Sheridan resurfaced. He had previously disclosed to Men’s Journal that he had an altercation with Sheridan during their second meeting.
“They know each other so well at this point that Sheridan, who has penned or co-penned every episode, utilizes elements of Hauser’s past to provoke emotional reactions from him on screen,” the outlet noted.
Hauser jokingly acknowledged his history of bar fights.
“Does a bear s*** in the woods? I’ve probably been in one on every continent,” he humorously remarked. “I don’t see anything wrong with fights. Sometimes I just grow weary of words, so let’s settle it physically. Maybe afterward, you’ll buy me a Guinness, and I’ll get you a Bushmills, and we’ll call it even. That’s just how guys operate.”
Wes Bentley vs. Kevin Costner
An exposé by The Hollywood Reporter in October 2025 revealed that a confrontation between Kevin Costner and Wes Bentley reportedly led to a temporary halt in Yellowstone production.
Multiple sources described an incident where the two co-stars argued over a scene. Costner allegedly pushed Bentley to deviate from the script, which he resisted.
“Kevin didn’t appreciate that, and he lunged at him,” a witness present at the alleged altercation recounted. “There weren’t any punches thrown, but they were in each other’s faces, pushing and shoving until they had to be separated.”
This incident reportedly left Kelly Reilly in tears.
“The episode with Wes marked a turning point,” a second insider stated. “From that moment forward, everything changed. Everyone adored Wes, which understandably upset Taylor. Kevin and Taylor began having frequent disagreements afterward. It became very uncomfortable.”
A spokesperson for Bentley confirmed the altercation to The Hollywood Reporter, describing it as a “work-related argument during an emotionally and physically demanding scene,” which was later “discussed and resolved.”
Costner’s spokesperson declined to comment on the incident.
