Kevin Costner in Yellowstone.Photo: Paramount Network
Kevin Costner, other cast members fromYellowstone, and series creator Taylor Sheridan were all notably absent from a Saturday event at PaleyFest, where Costner, 68, and his castmates were scheduled to participate in a panel about the series during an episode screening.
The panel took place following aDeadlinereport thatMatthew McConaugheywasin talks to starin a spinoff of the popular Paramount+ series, as Costnerconsidered an exit to instead focuson directing and starring in the upcoming Western,Horizon.
Cast members from “Yellowstone” attend a panel at the Paley Center.Brian To for the Paley Center
Keith Cox, the president of development & production for Paramount Network, said at the event that he was hopeful of Costner’s continuation on the show, but he was unable to provide a specific update on when production on Season 5 might resume.
“What I can say is our star, the face of our show and the executive producer, are very confident he’s going to continue with our show,” he said, prompting a round of applause.
Reps for both the Paley Center and Paramount Network did not immediately respond to PEOPLE’s request for comment.
When asked at PaleyFest if he thinks the show could continue in a world without Costner’s character, Lucas — who plays Costner’s character John Dutton in flashback — said that he thinks Sheridan has “always planned on at some point, having Kevin die and having multiple characters die.”
“And so you know that that’s just the way the story… the evolution of what the ranch is. That’s why when you see the cemetery and you see the names of Elsa and you see the names of Jacob and you see these names, I think it’s of course going to evolve and change,” Lucas, 51, says. “And I think that’s what hopefully people will really like as it goes. I don’t know, Taylor can tell a story about the future for all we know.”
Yellowstone’s Taylor Sheridan.Gabe Ginsberg/Getty for for Paramount+
A spokesperson for Paramount Network previously told PEOPLE in February that they hoped to have both McConaughey, 53, and Costner be part of theYellowstonefamily. “Kevin Costner is a big part ofYellowstone, and we hope that’s the case for a long time to come.”
McCarthy also toldTHRthat the franchise “wouldn’t be what it is today without Kevin and we hope that that stays for a long time to come.”
source: people.com
