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Kelly Reilly is breaking her silence on the ending of “Yellowstone” and the off-screen tensions that shaped the final chapter of the hit western series.
In December 2024, “Yellowstone” concluded after five seasons following widely reported conflict 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 to rework “Yellowstone’s” final season and ending.
During an interview with the Times published Saturday, Reilly, 48, who played Beth Dutton, expressed her regret over how “Yellowstone” wrapped up.
“It was a shame it ended that way, but it did,” she said.
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“Yellowstone” star Kelly Reilly opened up about her disappointment over how the show ended. (Michael Buckner/Deadline/Penske Media via Getty Images)
During the final years of “Yellowstone’s” production, Costner and Sheridan reportedly clashed over scheduling, contract terms and creative control. Costner seemingly had issues with the timing of filming “Yellowstone” as he wanted to focus on his passion project, the Western epic “Horizon: An American Saga.”
After negotiations reportedly broke down, Costner ultimately left “Yellowstone” before filming the final episodes of season five, leading the creative team to kill off his character, John Dutton, earlier than originally planned.
Costner’s exit also reportedly played a role in the decision to end the series with season five rather than continuing longer.
Reilly played Beth Dutton, the daughter of Kevin Costner’s John Dutton. (Paramount+)
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When it aired in December 2024, “Yellowstone”‘s finale divided viewers, with fans and critics widely speculating that the off-screen conflict influenced how the Dutton family saga ultimately ended.
While speaking with the Sunday Times, Reilly appeared to confirm that the off-screen drama impacted the ending of “Yellowstone.”
“[If] we were just having a beer, I could share more,” the actress said. “It was only supposed to go on for five years … It was successful … A life of its own.”
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“I’m just picking my words, because I’ve never really talked about it,” she continued. “A lot went on behind the scenes that had nothing to do with me; I was just waiting. ‘When are we going back to work?’”
Reilly is pictured with Costner and Sheridan in 2018. (Presley Ann/Getty Images)
Reilly is returning to the Yellowstone universe with Sheridan’s upcoming spin-off series “Dutton Ranch,” which follows Beth and her husband Rip Wheeler (Cole Hauser) as they build a new life and legacy after the events of the “Yellowstone” finale.
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“Dutton Ranch” will also star Annette Bening and Ed Harris while Finn Little is returning as Beth and Rip’s adopted son Carter.
While speaking with the Sunday Times, Reilly shed some light on what viewers can expect to see from Beth as her story continues.
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Cole Hauser and Reilly star are returning as Rip Wheeler and Beth in “Dutton Ranch.” (Paramount)
“This is a different era — I had hit my quota of the younger Beth,” she said. “But there is a lot of why the audience fell in love with her. Beth was unrelenting, dangerous and could easily have been written as a man — people were very critical at the start.”
Reilly shared her view that criticism of Beth was due to how the character defied audience expectations about how women “should” behave on screen.
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“She is unapologetic, out there, flawed, damaged and brave,” Reilly said. “Women are always asked to play strong role model types, while men can play the gnarliest characters and get away with it.”
“That was very freeing.”