Kelly Reilly recently opened up about the ending of *Yellowstone* and the behind-the-scenes issues that influenced its conclusion.
As of December 2024, *Yellowstone* wrapped up after five seasons amid well-known disputes between star Kevin Costner and the show’s creator, Taylor Sheridan. This tension eventually led to Costner leaving the series earlier than planned, which necessitated changes to the final season.
In a conversation with *The Sunday Times*, published last Saturday, Reilly, who portrayed Beth Dutton, expressed her disappointment regarding how the series concluded. “It was unfortunate that it ended the way it did, but it ended up happening,” she mentioned.
During the show’s last years, Costner and Sheridan were reportedly at odds over various issues like scheduling and creative control. It seemed, well, Costner had his own priorities, wanting to focus on his personal project, *Horizon: An American Saga*.
When negotiations fell through, Costner stepped away from *Yellowstone* before shooting the final episode of season five, pushing the creative team to conclude John Dutton’s story sooner than anticipated.
His exit also played a role in the decision to end the series after season five instead of extending it further.
Upon its series finale in December 2024, reactions were mixed, with many fans and critics speculating that the off-screen conflict affected the resolution of the Dutton family’s saga.
Reilly acknowledged in the interview that the behind-the-scenes drama did impact the show’s ending. “If we were just drinking beers so we could share more,” she reflected, “It was only supposed to last five years… It was a success… It had a life of its own.”
She further stated, “I’ve never really talked about it, so I’m just choosing my words carefully. There was a lot going on behind the scenes that had nothing to do with me. I was just waiting, ‘When are you going to go back to work?’”
Looking ahead, Reilly is set to return in Sheridan’s upcoming spinoff series, *Dutton Ranch*, which focuses on Beth and her husband Rip Wheeler as they navigate their new life post-*Yellowstone*.
The spinoff will also feature Annette Bening and Ed Harris, with Finn Little returning as Beth and Rip’s adopted son, Carter.
In her interview, Reilly hinted at what viewers might expect for Beth’s character moving forward. She reflected on the transition from being the younger Beth, saying, “This was a different time. I was fulfilling my quota of young Beth.” Reilly noted that many viewers were drawn to Beth because she challenged traditional portrayals of women on-screen. “She could have been ruthless, dangerous, and easily portrayed as a man. People were very critical at first.”
She observed that the harsh criticism Beth faced stemmed from her character defying expectations of female behavior in media. “She’s unapologetically there, flawed, hurt, and brave,” Reilly explained. “Women are always asked to play strong role models, whereas men can play the most difficult characters and get away with it.”
“It was very freeing,” she concluded.
