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Between epic romances, brawling cowboys and shoot-outs over coveted acres of Montana ranchland, Yellowstone<\/em><\/a> was packed to the brim with drama during its successful five-season run on Paramount+. Behind the scenes, conflict has also reigned. In May 2023, reports of tension between show creator Taylor Sheridan<\/strong> and star Kevin Costner<\/strong> over scheduling and money peaked when it was announced the smash-hit series would come to an end<\/a> after the second half of season 5<\/a> airs in 2024 (and that Kevin would be written out of the final installment).<\/span><\/p>\n And now, plans of a much-hyped spinoff series<\/a> have hit a roadblock. Despite major casting buzz, Hollywood A-listers Matthew McConaughey<\/strong><\/a> and Michelle Pfeiffer<\/strong> have yet to sign on the dotted line<\/a>, and Yellowstone<\/em> alums Cole Hauser<\/strong> and Kelly Reilly<\/strong> (who play beloved onscreen couple Rip Wheeler and Beth Dutton) and Luke Grimes<\/strong> are demanding big raises and top billing. \u201cThey\u2019re all asking for more than $1 million per episode<\/a>,\u201d an insider exclusively tells Life & Style<\/em>, \u201cand they won\u2019t be pressured into taking less. It\u2019s become a bit of a standoff.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n Producers are desperate to lock Matthew in for the spinoff series, but it hasn\u2019t been an easy feat. The insider says the 54-year-old Oscar winner has been sending scripts back and asking for revisions. \u201cMatthew wants to be a part of the franchise, he\u2019s a big fan, but he wants to flesh out his character<\/a> more and has other ideas of his own to pass along,\u201d says the insider. \u201cTaylor and his colleagues are scrambling to make it work.\u201d There\u2019s also the salary issue: \u201cMatthew\u2019s asking for $2.5 million<\/a> per episode and he\u2019s not budging,\u201d the insider reveals. (Meanwhile, the insider says Michelle, 65, is \u201cclose\u201d to signing a deal.)<\/span><\/p>\n Cole, Kelly and Luke are also playing hardball. According to reports, Kelly, 46, requested $1.5 million an episode, while Cole, 48, asked for $1.25 million (he currently makes $700,000 per episode). Paramount+ has reportedly offered Cole $850,000 for the first season of the spinoff and $950,000 for the guaranteed second season \u2014 and is proposing that all three actors apply their pay-or-play salary from season 6 of Yellowstone (which won\u2019t be filmed) to the new show \u2014 in essence using the money they are due to pay themselves for the new project.<\/span><\/p>\n \u201cThey feel they\u2019re worth much more than that, especially since their characters are being used to set up the spinoff, and believe the powers that be are being stingy,\u201d says the insider. They also want top billing above Matthew and Michelle. Luke, 40 \u2014 who\u2019s releasing his first country music album in March<\/a> \u2014 is less invested in the outcome. \u201cHe\u2019s looking to become a Nashville star,\u201d the insider says.<\/span><\/p>\n Taylor is \u201cdisappointed\u201d with all of the delays. (In the meantime, it was recently announced Demi Moore<\/strong> will star opposite Billy Bob Thornton<\/strong> in Taylor\u2019s upcoming oil boom series<\/a>, Landman<\/em>.) \u201cAll this haggling over scripts and salaries is taking longer than expected,\u201d says the insider. \u201cSome say he\u2019s got an ego bigger than the state of Texas and doesn\u2019t like interference, but he\u2019s still willing to do what it takes to get these people on board \u2014 within reason.\u201d\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<\/p><\/div>\nUnder Pressure<\/h2>\n
Creative Differences<\/h2>\n