Kevin Costner Reportedly Shut Down Yellowstone Production After Heated Clash with Co-Star Wes Bentley
Tension on the Yellowstone Set
In a shocking new report, Yellowstone star Kevin Costner allegedly got into a physical altercation with his co-star Wes Bentley, temporarily halting production on the hit Western drama. The confrontation, described as “heated” and “intense,” reportedly unfolded during the filming of a demanding scene and marked a turning point in the already strained atmosphere on set.
According to The Hollywood Reporter, the 70-year-old actor, who played ranch patriarch John Dutton III, was unhappy with a scene’s direction and urged Bentley to ignore series creator Taylor Sheridan’s script in favor of his own take. Bentley, who plays Costner’s adoptive son Jamie Dutton, pushed back, reminding him that he had signed on for Sheridan’s version of Yellowstone — not Costner’s.
That disagreement, sources claim, led to a fiery exchange.
“They Had to Be Separated”
One eyewitness told THR: “Kevin didn’t like that, and he lunged at him. No fists were thrown, but they were in each other’s faces, pushing and shoving until they had to be separated.”
The confrontation reportedly left co-star Kelly Reilly, who plays Beth Dutton, in tears, and production was briefly shut down while the situation cooled off.
Bentley’s spokesperson later confirmed the incident, describing it as a “work-related argument during an emotional and physically tough scene” that was “discussed and resolved.” Costner’s team has not publicly commented on the report.
Fallout and Departure
Sources close to the production suggest that the altercation marked a breaking point between Costner and Sheridan. “The incident with Wes was the line in the sand,” one insider said. “Everyone loved Wes, and that really made Taylor upset. Kevin and Taylor butted heads from there on out. It got very awkward.”
As Yellowstone moved through its fifth and final season, tensions reportedly escalated behind the scenes. Cast and crew members began describing Costner’s behavior as increasingly “difficult” and “diva-like.”
In June 2024, Costner officially confirmed his departure from the series, citing scheduling conflicts with his multi-part Western epic Horizon, which he wrote, directed, and starred in.
Costner Speaks Out
Speaking on NBC’s Today Show, Costner defended his decision, explaining that delays in production made it impossible to balance both projects. “I did it for five years, and I wanted to work more than once a year,” he said. “We lost an entire year at one point, and I thought that can’t happen again.”
He also revealed that when he returned to film Yellowstone’s final episodes, “there was no script and things imploded.”
Meanwhile, Taylor Sheridan publicly admitted he was “disappointed” by Costner’s exit, saying it “truncates the closure of his character.”
The End of an Era
Since premiering in 2018, Yellowstone has redefined television’s modern Western genre, with Costner’s portrayal of John Dutton at its center. But behind the scenes, it appears the cracks ran deep — and the confrontation with Bentley may have been the moment everything fell apart.
As Yellowstone prepares to conclude its final season, fans are left with one lingering thought: for a show built on family feuds and power struggles, the real-life drama might have been just as explosive.