No, Kevin Costner’s divorce does not have anything to do with Yellowstone ending
According to PEOPLE’s sources, the star’s breakup with Christine Baumgartner had nothing to do with the cancellation of his popular Western series after five seasons.
To put it mildly, Kevin Costner has had quite the week.
On Tuesday, news broke that the actor and his wife of 18 years, Christine Baumgartner, were divorcing. Three days later, Paramount Network confirmed that the fifth season of Yellowstone, starring Kevin Costner, would be its last.
Both bombshells occurred in the same week, but there appears to be no connection between them. Costner’s divorce “has absolutely nothing to do with Yellowstone,” a source told PEOPLE, adding, “The 2 scenarios are unassociated.”
Costner’s representatives did not immediately respond Friday to EW’s request for comment.
Oscar-winning actor Kevin Costner
Photograph by Jim Bennett / WireImage
Both Costner and Baumgartner have three children from their 2004 marriage. Today, a spokeswoman for the actor said that the pair had separated due to “situations beyond [Costner’s] control,” adding, “We ask that his, Christine’s, and their children’s personal privacy be appreciated as they browse this challenging time.”
For months, there were rumours floating around concerning the future of the Yellowstone programme and Costner’s involvement in it. The second half of the fifth season of the Taylor Sheridan drama, which follows Costner’s John Dutton as he brutally runs the ranches owned by his family, will premiere in November, and the characters will then ride out into the sunset.
An untitled Yellowstone sequel will debut on Paramount Network in December, so it’s not like they’re saying “so long, cowboy” to the series just yet.
Paramount president Chris McCarthy said in a statement released on Friday, “Yellowstone has been the foundation on which we have introduced a whole universe of global hits, from 1883 to Tulsa King.” I have no doubt that our Yellowstone sequel will be a hit owing to the brilliantly inventive mind of Taylor Sheridan and the outstanding performances of our performers.
Besides the new sequel and 1883, the Yellowstone universe also includes 1923, starring Harrison Ford and Helen Mirren.