Kevin Costner almost traded lines with Leonardo DiCaprio in Quentin Tarantino’s Oscar-winning American revisionist 2012 Western film.
Have you ever witnessed the roller coaster journey of a big-screen legend, marked by an illustrious rise? Look no further than the enchanting odyssey of Kevin Costner. From dancing with wolves at the zenith of his career to weathering the storm of films that missed the mark, the actor’s narrative is anything but dull.
Certainly, not every actor can claim to have been the king of the box office hill—a title Costner wore like a crown during the early ‘90s. That being said, the actor, 69, seized the reins of success with the hit series Yellowstone. This wasn’t just a stroke of luck; it was a testament to his enduring clout, paving the way for him to helm his four-part magnum opus, Horizon: An American Saga.
While the what-ifs of Hollywood are a dime a dozen, consider the head-turner that could have been: Costner’s brush with a plum role in Django Unchained, Quentin Tarantino’s masterpiece. Although scheduling conflicts steered his course away from a star-studded ensemble including Leonardo DiCaprio, we can’t help but marvel at the rich tapestry of his career choices.
The Untold Story of Kevin Costner’s Near-Casting Alongside Leonardo DiCaprio
When we think of Kevin Costner, do our minds not instantly transport to the rugged terrains of the American West, where the boundary between hero and outlaw blurs in the dust of horseback chases? Indeed, the actor did not hesitate to get his hands dirty in the Western roles (such as Yellowstone) that made audiences sit on the edge of their seats.
But Costner’s career was not without its twists and turns. When he was offered the role of Ace Woody in Quentin Tarantino’s Django Unchained, he found himself at a crossroads. Sure, joining the star-studded cast of the Oscar-winning film could have been his ticket to a major success story.
But just two months after his casting news went public, a ripple of surprise spread as Deadline reported in 2011 that Costner was no longer a part of this film. “A combination of scheduling and personal reasons” was cited as the reason for his withdrawal from the fierce role.
This narrative change came hot on the heels of Will Smith’s earlier departure from this flick, as he chose a path leading to M. Night Shyamalan’s After Earth. As we learned from IndieWire, there was a moment when Costner might have hung up his Django Unchained spurs to saddle up with another familiar frontier—the gritty narrative of Hatfields & McCoys, directed by Kevin Reynolds.
So, Ace Woody, a character that Costner was initially slated to portray was the right hand of Calvin Candie (Leonardo DiCaprio).
Yellowstone Exit: Kevin Costner Clarified Misconceptions & Future Plans
Once upon a time in the Wild West of television drama, Yellowstone fans were riding high on the back of Kevin Costner’s iconic portrayal of John Dutton. But alas, all good things must come to an end, and it seems that the sun may have set on the actor’s time as the patriarch of the Dutton family.
Rumors of a falling out between the actor and Taylor Sheridan have been swirling like a dust storm on the prairie, leaving fans in a state of uncertainty and disbelief.
As the truth begins to emerge, it becomes clear that Costner’s departure from Yellowstone was not a decision made lightly. Like a lone ranger riding off into the sunset, he made a choice to prioritize his own creative endeavors over the demands of the studio. In a GQ cover story interview, Costner recalled:
At one point they said to me that we don’t have an ending or anything. I said, ‘Well, if you want to kill me, if you want to do something like that,’ I said, ‘I have a week before I start [filming Horizon.] I’ll do what you want to do.’
But for Yellowstone fans who have been holding out hope for Costner’s return, it may be time to face the harsh reality that their beloved cowboy has exited the series for good.
As Yellowstone will conclude later this year, let us trust that Sheridan will guide us through the wilderness with a steady hand and a clear vision. And let us have faith that the spirit of John Dutton will live on in the hearts of fans, no matter what twists & turns the road may take.
Yellowstone 5B will premiere on November 10, 2024.
