Taylor Sheridan Finally Cleared Up Why Yellowstone Came To An End

Nearly all discussions surrounding the series conclusion of the hit drama Yellowstone have been dominated by a behind-the-scenes rumor that the show's creator, Taylor Sheridan, had a falling out with lead actor Kevin Costner. With tons of people speculating that the show ended, scheduling conflicts and contract disputes were the core reasons the series ended.

Well, Taylor Sheridan recently wanted to clear the air by revealing the real reason behind the show ending. In a recent interview with Esquire, he says John Dutton, the character played by Costner, was only planned to appear in the first three seasons, after which the story would smoothly transition to a new generation.

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No one really planned for the show to become a global cultural phenomenon. The network that held its broadcast rights refused to let go of Costner. Forcing him to crank out two additional seasons. Which explains why it felt like the show's plot was getting stretched. Sheridan says the story ended up "treading water" longer than originally intended.

The series' ending had been locked in years earlier. The unexpected massive popularity only delayed the conclusion. This shatters the theory that Sheridan and Costner had a falling out. Costner was just working overtime.

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I'll admit it.

I enjoyed Yellowstone. The scenery was incredible, the cast was outstanding, and it made for some great television.

It brought Montana's mountains, pastures, rivers, and other native natural landscapes to millions of viewers worldwide, boosting local tourism.

It also drove a large number of out-of-state people to travel to the area. Many came to buy ranches or visit the "Dutton Ranch" as a sightseeing spot. With all of this attention fueling Montana's explosive population growth in recent years.

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Montana's explosive growth isn't the fault of one television show. But it would be hard to argue that Yellowstone didn't put an even brighter spotlight on a state that was already attracting national attention.

The real attitude of many Montana locals toward the show's conclusion has never been a dislike of the series. Think of it more like a relief that the "biggest commercial advertisement promoting moving to Montana" would finally stop airing.