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We Spoke to Kevin Costner to Find Out What It's Really Like Filming "Yellowstone'

From Good Housekeeping

We're obsessed with Yellowstone, and we're not alone: Millions of viewers tune in every Sunday to watch John Dutton and company shake things up at the largest fictitious ranch in the United States. And even if you doubted that a modern-day ranching drama could reel you in, the Paramount Network juggernaut has clearly found a way — maybe it's the breathtaking views of the Bitterroot valley, Beth Dutton's take-no-prisoners attitude, or seeing Kevin Costner completely in his element, cowboy hat and all.

But Yellowstone fans don't simply tune in and tune out: Each week, without fail, many of you share your thoughts and theories using #YellowstoneTV, making it one of Sunday's top Twitter trends. Then you turn to the show's other social media channels to ask questions surrounding the storylines, characters, and actors who make the magic happen. Some fan questions have easy answers (Where can I buy a Dutton ranch hat?) while others are far more, let's just say, complicated (Why does Beth hate Jamie so much?).

To feed our obsession (and yours!), Good Housekeeping went straight to the source — the cast of Yellowstone — to get all the details about the show, which is airing its third season and about to start filming its fourth.

If we could all pack our bags and head out west to experience Yellowstone IRL, we would. Luckily, this behind-the-scenes look with Kevin Costner, Kelly Reilly, and the rest of the cast is the next best thing.


Photo credit: Hearst Owned
Photo credit: Hearst Owned

"I can't remember being on a set where there was such a love fest like there is on Yellowstone. When we get together for another season, it's like seeing your long-lost brothers and sisters. It feels like a family, which was created from the very top by the show's creator, Taylor (Sheridan)." - Gil Birmingham


Photo credit: Hearst Owned
Photo credit: Hearst Owned

"I've never wanted to wear a tie in my life. To this day, I'm not comfortable in suits. There's nothing about it that I like. A western is something I can crawl into so much easier." - Kevin Costner

"I didn't know that I would suddenly have horses as such a big part of my life, but this show has really done that for me. There's just something about connecting with nature and getting back to this basic way of life that makes me feel really grounded." - Luke Grimes


Photo credit: Hearst Owned
Photo credit: Hearst Owned

"While it's beautiful, it's equally historical. It's where Lois and Clark traveled through. I feast on that type of history. It's haunting to be there when I think about it because it really was the Garden of Eden, in many ways." - Kevin Costner

Photo credit: Danno Nell
Photo credit: Danno Nell

"It's humbling to be in Montana for a Native person, playing a character who is so connected with the land. The show, essentially, is about the land and we're able to live in it while filming." - Gil Birmingham

"The ranch, the backdrop of the show is really a main character. We're all being held by it. We're all fighting over it. When you're there, you can tap into why because there's a magic to those mountains." - Kelly Reilly


Photo credit: Hearst Owned
Photo credit: Hearst Owned

"Rip is the greatest cowboy in Taylor Sheridan's [the creator's] eyes. I had to learn how to rope, cut, reign ... all of the different disciplines of being a horseman takes time in a saddle. You can't just jump on there and act like you know what you're doing, or you're going to get thrown on your ass." - Cole Hauser

"I owned horses a little less than 20 years ago at a ranch outside of Los Angeles. But when I joined the show, I immediately learned that I was the lawyer and wouldn't be on horses all that often. We have high-end horses on the show, so when I can get up on one of them it's like driving a Ferrari. If I have a long break between scenes, I'll change out of my lawyer suit and just go for a ride." - Wes Bentley


Photo credit: Hearst Owned
Photo credit: Hearst Owned

"One of the most important things for me was seeing her [Beth] fight back when she was about to be killed during season 2. She's completely covered in blood. She's dominated by a man's strength. The fact that she has power in that scene was so moving to me, and it really resonated with a lot of women. So many women wrote to me because they related to the fire, the survival in Beth's rage." - Kelly Reilly

Photo credit: Danno Nell
Photo credit: Danno Nell


"I love playing a fully dimensional character in a contemporary time. It's a Native American character who has intelligence, power, and current attributes, which we rarely ever see in movies and televisions. Typically, they are time pieces focused on the history. For many people who watch these shows and movies, they aren't even aware that Native American communities still exist." - Gil Birmingham


Photo credit: Hearst Owned
Photo credit: Hearst Owned

"The most exciting thing is that I don't where it's going. Taylor (Sheridan) has totally baffled me on it every time, so I'm excited like everyone else. Where does Jamie end up? I'd like to know. I'm also excited to see who he really is because he's spent his whole life not really being himself. I think we're starting to get pieces of that now, so I think it's going to be really interesting to see." - Wes Bentley

"The end of season 3 is the most jaw-dropping, and I'm wondering how they'll move forward. It's funny because Taylor (Sheridan) has always told us that he knows how the show is going to end and I'd love to know." - Kelsey Asbille


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