‘Yellowstone’ Cast Struggled After Kevin Costner’s Departure and Long Hiatus: ‘I Was Having a Really Hard Time Locking Back In’

As a movie enthusiast with over three decades of watching and analyzing television shows under my belt, I must say that the return of “Yellowstone” feels like the homecoming of an old friend who took a much-too-long vacation. The absence of Kevin Costner’s character, John Dutton, left a noticeable void, but the core cast seems to have embraced the challenge with open arms.


One of television’s biggest shows is back after nearly two years.

On Sunday evening, the popular Paramount Network series “Yellowstone” will air its second half of Season 5. However, fans have been eagerly anticipating a new episode since New Year’s Day in 2023. In the meantime, lead actor Kevin Costner, who plays the Dutton family patriarch, left the show, leading to significant changes in the remaining episodes’ scripts.

At the Museum of Modern Art in New York on Thursday evening, the cast walked the red carpet for a heartwarming reunion that evoked a sense of warm welcome. Despite the show’s lead having passed away and the recent tension from the Election Day just 48 hours prior, there was an overall positive atmosphere among the main actors.

After Costner’s departure and a lengthy break in the series, they were transparent about how things evolved when they returned to the ranch. Luke Grimes, portraying Kayce, admitted that he needed a moment to adjust to the fast-paced rhythm of the show again.

He admits it was tough for him to get back into things. He’s been familiar with this person for a long time, but a two-year break made it challenging to rediscover the subtle details. One method he employed was delaying reading the last episode until the last moment. He suspected that approach would draw him back in, and it did – after reading the final episode, he was emotional. However, then he felt like he recognized the character again.

‘Yellowstone’ Cast Struggled After Kevin Costner’s Departure and Long Hiatus: ‘I Was Having a Really Hard Time Locking Back In’

Kelsey Asbille, the actress portraying Kayce’s wife Monica, expressed gratitude as they managed to keep filming the show despite challenges.

I can’t express enough gratitude for being back, especially after dedicating such a considerable amount of time to this project. Returning to ‘Yellowstone’ felt like returning home, and the joy I experienced in preparing to bring the show to a powerful conclusion was immense.

Given the audible sighs of relief during the confidential premiere showing following the red carpet, it’s clear that viewers will appreciate the return of “Yellowstone” just as much.

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2024-11-09 02:46