Kevin Costner’s Yellowstone Contract Includes a Unique Clause for John Dutton
Hollywood has a long history of bizarre and outrageous contract stipulations. On the unusual side, when Jack Nicholson signed on to play “The Joker” in 1989’s “Batman,” he negotiated a lucrative back-end deal that likely kept Warner Bros. from profiting. He also secured time off to attend Lakers games and demanded top billing over Michael Keaton, the film’s lead. On a wilder note, alt-comedy icon Andy Kaufman agreed to appear in “Taxi” only if his alter ego, Tony Clifton, could also have a role.
Moving beyond actors, director Rian Johnson claimed in 2020 that Apple has a policy preventing villains from using iPhones in films or TV shows. While Apple hasn’t confirmed this, their Guidelines for Using Apple Trademarks state that products can only be featured in a favorable light.
In a similar vein, Kevin Costner has reportedly negotiated a unique clause in his “Yellowstone” contract that limits how his character, John Dutton, can be portrayed. This clause ensures that Dutton is only shown in contexts that reflect positively on both Costner and the character.
Kevin Costner’s “Moral Death” Clause in Yellowstone
“Yellowstone” has faced significant challenges recently. The popular Paramount series was on a high note with the first part of its fifth season, which debuted in November 2022. However, the show became entangled in the 2023 Hollywood strikes, leading to Costner’s departure. His reasons were somewhat murky, with Costner wanting to focus on his “Horizon” film saga, while series creator Taylor Sheridan suggested that this ambition delayed the show’s continuation.
During this turmoil, Costner hinted that he might pursue legal action regarding his exit, suggesting tension with Sheridan, who was juggling multiple “Yellowstone” spin-offs. How Sheridan plans to write Costner out of the series remains unclear, but it’s evident that if John Dutton is to be killed off, it will be done in a dignified manner. According to a 2023 report from Puck News, Costner included a “moral death” clause in his contract, specifying how Dutton can and cannot meet his end.
Understanding the ‘Moral Death’ Clause
Puck News reported that Costner secured this clause during a contract renegotiation. It prohibits deaths that would bring shame or embarrassment to John Dutton—and implicitly, to Costner and his family. This type of provision is quite rare in Hollywood. For instance, Jamie Lee Curtis revealed that during the production of 1998’s “Halloween: H20,” a stipulation was put in place preventing Michael Myers from being killed off, though that was a studio directive rather than an actor’s request.
More common are “No Lose” clauses seen in action star contracts, which stipulate that certain stars cannot lose fights on-screen. Vin Diesel, Dwayne Johnson, and Jason Statham have all had such clauses in their “Fast and Furious” contracts. But a “moral death” clause is less frequently encountered, making Costner’s stipulation stand out.
Will Yellowstone Honor Costner’s Clause?
Interestingly, Costner’s earlier comment about potentially going to court over his exit seems to be less about violating the “moral death” clause and more about the terms offered for his return. Reports indicate that during renegotiations, Costner sought the right to review and potentially veto every script by Sheridan—something Paramount deemed excessive. While they accepted that they couldn’t depict John Dutton’s death in an unflattering manner, granting Costner final say on scripts proved too much, leading to the original deal being rescinded.
Whether Sheridan opts to give Dutton an ignoble death remains to be seen. The future of “Yellowstone” is uncertain, with series leads Kelly Reilly and Cole Hauser in talks for a potential sixth season without Costner.
As of now, nothing has been officially confirmed. Meanwhile, Sheridan and Paramount are busy developing several “Yellowstone” spin-offs, including “The Madison,” starring Kurt Russell and Michelle Pfeiffer, set to debut after “Yellowstone” season 5B on November 10, 2024. Given Paramount’s efforts to keep plot details under wraps following Costner’s exit, even the cast may not know how the series will conclude. We’ll have to wait to see if John Dutton’s departure is handled with the dignity Costner sought or if it becomes a more controversial affair.
