Wes Bentley responds to Yellowstone’s Kevin Costner clash claims after explosive report: Here’s what he confirmed

Wes Bentley has confirmed the incident involving him and Kevin Costner on the set of Yellowstone.

His spokesperson mentioned that both of them had a work-related heated argument during filming of the final season of the show. The source also stated that the two had a different view of creative choices during the shooting of a scene that was both emotional and physically demanding. The confrontation resulted in a brief halt to the shooting.

The unexpected exit of Costner not only led to a change in the script but also affected the mood on the set. The Hollywood Reporter, Esquire, and Collider have reported on the growing tensions between Costner and the series creator, Taylor Sheridan. The discord was said to have escalated when Costner attempted to influence his colleagues’ performance, particularly Bentley, who portrays Jamie Dutton.

Wes Bentley confirms clash with Kevin Costner on Yellowstone set

Spokesperson of Bentley confirmed to THR that the two actors had a professional dispute during an emotional and physically demanding scene. The source further mentioned that it was talked about and settled.

The disagreement occurred during the shooting of the passionate Dutton family scene on a Utah soundstage. Kevin Costner, who is both the main actor and executive producer, allegedly instructed Wes Bentley to avoid the show-runner Taylor Sheridan's script and rather go by his own interpretation. Bentley, on the other hand, stubbornly insisted that the scene be realized according to Sheridan's vision, which eventually resulted in a heated argument between the two.

Some eyewitnesses reported to media outlets that the situation escalated, and even went as far as some light pushing, though nobody was hurt. Kelly Reilly (Beth Dutton), who was in the middle of it, reportedly moved to tears when the crew members came to help the actors get separated.

The source told THR:

“Kevin didn’t like that, and he lunged at him. No fists were thrown, but they were in each other’s faces, pushing and shoving and just getting hot until they had to be separated.”

The filming for Yellowstone was stopped for a short while. The fight between the cast and crew was a major setback, much to the annoyance of Sheridan, and it also deepened the rift between Costner and the show's management.

Wes Bentley, in a November 2024 interview, reflected on Kevin Costner, paying tribute to him and confessing the big void that his exit left in the series.

Speaking with ExtraTV, Bentley said:

“I’ll just say about Kevin that, you know, he’s such a huge part of the show and he leaves a big hole and we miss him, and I wish him the best of luck.”

What is Yellowstone about?

Yellowstone has always been way more than cattle ranching, cowboy hats, and Montana sunsets. The story is about survival, power, and a slice of the American Dream. It aired on June 20, 2018, and ended on December 15, 2024.

First off, we have the Dutton family, who make the Roys from Succession look like amateurs. John Dutton (played by Kevin Costner) rules his ranch like a king. The show features a strong supporting cast, including Luke Grimes as Kayce Dutton, Kelly Reilly as Beth Dutton, Wes Bentley as Jamie Dutton, Cole Hauser as Rip Wheeler, Kelsey Asbille as Monica Long Dutton, and Gil Birmingham as Chief Thomas Rainwater.

Beth is the definition of do not mess with me, Kayce is torn between being a good guy and doing what needs to be done. Jamie has many issues to deal with, and let’s just say you don’t want to find yourself alone in a barn with Rip Wheeler.

The Duttons are fighting off all kinds of enemies: developers who want their paradise, politicians, and even the government, which seriously has its own agenda with Yellowstone National Park breathing down their necks. And we also have Broken Rock Reservation. The tension between the Duttons and Chief Rainwater’s people brings up questions about history, justice, and who actually has a claim to the land.

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Yellowstone features several themes, the big ones are power (who gets it, who keeps it, who loses it), loyalty (and how much it costs), and survival (literal and emotional). The series isn’t shy about showing the ugly side of trying to hold onto something precious.

Taylor Sheridan and John Linson are the masterminds behind the whole thing. The show has been such a hit that it has become a franchise with prequels like 1883 and 1923, which dig into the Duttons’ roots and the dirty work it took to build that kingdom.

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