The feud between Yellowstone star Kevin Costner and series creator Taylor Sheridan has taken yet another wild turn. A new report from The Hollywood Reporter claims tensions between the two Western titans spilled over from studio disputes into the real world — with allegations of a “livestock lockout” that nearly derailed Costner’s passion project, Horizon: An American Saga.

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The Fallout After Yellowstone

When Kevin Costner left Yellowstone in 2023 to focus on his self-financed four-part Western saga Horizon, fans hoped the behind-the-scenes drama would end quietly. Instead, what began as a creative disagreement turned into one of Hollywood’s most public feuds.

Sheridan and Costner reportedly clashed over everything from shooting schedules to script control and the direction of Costner’s character, John Dutton. As Sheridan expanded his sprawling Paramount+ empire, Costner poured his energy — and millions of dollars of his own fortune — into Horizon.

But, according to insiders, things only got messier from there.

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“Cattle Coup” on the Range

Sources told THR that when Costner began filming Horizon in Utah, he ran into an unexpected production crisis — a shortage of horses and cattle. The animals, essential for large-scale Western shoots, were reportedly unavailable because they had all been rented out.

The rumor circulating through production circles? That Taylor Sheridan had quietly cornered the market on livestock for his own Yellowstone spin-offs, leaving Costner scrambling.

Whether the story is true or simply Hollywood legend, the timing was enough to ignite whispers of Sheridan’s “petty revenge.” One insider described it as “the most cowboy way possible to settle a grudge.”

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Costner’s Gamble Backfires

The supposed livestock setback was just one of many problems for Costner’s Horizon project. The actor-director invested $38 million of his own money into the first two chapters, even using prime real estate as collateral.

But the first film’s release last summer proved disastrous. Horizon: Chapter 1 earned disappointing box office returns, leading Warner Bros. to pull Chapter 2 from its release schedule. Costner has since struggled to secure financing for the remaining installments, while facing investor disputes and mounting legal challenges.

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Sheridan’s Star Rises

While Costner battles uphill, Taylor Sheridan’s career continues to soar. His Yellowstone universe has expanded across multiple hit spin-offs, including 1883, 1923, and the upcoming The Dutton Ranch, starring Kelly Reilly and Cole Hauser.

With Paramount+ fully behind him and more projects in development, Sheridan now stands as one of the most powerful creators in television — a far cry from the early days when Yellowstone was dismissed as “just another cowboy show.”

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The End of an Era — and a Rivalry

Though Costner has expressed interest in returning for Yellowstone’s final season, industry insiders suggest the rift between him and Sheridan is beyond repair. What began as a creative clash has evolved into one of Hollywood’s most talked-about feuds — a modern standoff fit for a Western.

And if the reports of that “cattle coup” are true, it may be the most poetic act of revenge in TV history.