‘Yellowstone’ star Kelly Reilly breaks silence on off-screen drama

Kelly Reilly is breaking her silence on the end of “Yellowstone” and the off-screen tensions that shaped the final episode of the popular western series.

In December 2024, “Yellowstone” ended after five seasons following a widely reported dispute between lead actor Kevin Costner and series creator Taylor Sheridan. The behind-the-scenes drama ultimately led to Costner’s early departure from the series, forcing the production team to recast and end the final season of “Yellowstone.”

During the interview with Times Reilly, 48, who plays the character Beth Dutton, which aired on Saturday, expressed her sadness that “Yellowstone” ended this way.

“It’s a shame it ended like this, but it did,” he said.

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In the final years of “Yellowstone’s” production, Costner and Sheridan reportedly clashed over scheduling, contract terms and creative control. Looks like Costner had issues With the timing of shooting “Yellowstone,” he wanted to focus on his passion project, the Western epic “Horizon: An American Saga.”

After negotiations reportedly broke down, Costner left “Yellowstone” before filming the final episodes of the fifth season, leading the creative team to kill off his character John Dutton earlier than originally planned.

Costner’s departure also reportedly played a role in the decision to end the series with a fifth season rather than continuing it longer.

Reilly played Beth Dutton, the daughter of Kevin Costner’s John Dutton. (Paramount+)

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When it aired in December 2024, the finale of “Yellowstone” divided viewers; fans and critics widely speculated that the off-screen conflict influenced the eventual ending of the Dutton family saga.

Speaking to the Sunday Times, Reilly confirmed that off-screen drama influenced the ending of “Yellowstone.”

“[If] We were just drinking beer, I could have shared more,” the actor said. “It was only supposed to last five years… It was successful… It had a life of its own.”

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“I’m just choosing my words because I’ve never talked about it,” he continued. “A lot of things happened behind the scenes that had nothing to do with me; I was just waiting. ‘When are we going back to work?'”

Reilly was photographed with Costner and Sheridan in 2018. (Presley Ann/Getty Images)

Reilly is returning to the Yellowstone universe in Sheridan’s upcoming spin-off series “Dutton Ranch.” This series follows Beth and her husband Rip Wheeler (Cole Hauser) as they build a new life and legacy following the events of the “Yellowstone” finale.

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“Dutton Ranch” also stars Annette Bening and Ed Harris, with Finn Little returning as Beth and Rip’s adopted son, Carter.

Speaking to the Sunday Times, Reilly shed light on what viewers can expect from Beth as her story continues.

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Cole Hauser and Reilly stars as Rip Wheeler and Beth in “Dutton Ranch.” (Most important)

“This is a different era; I had met my quota of young Beth,” she said. “But there are so many reasons why the audience fell in love with her. Beth was fierce, dangerous and could easily have been written as a man; people were very critical in the beginning.”

Reilly shared her view that criticism of Beth stems from how the character defies audience expectations about how women should act on screen.

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“He’s out there, flawed, damaged, and making no bold apology,” Reilly said. “Women are always asked to play strong role model types, while men can play the worst characters and get away with it.”

“It was very liberating.”