If Matthew McConaughey joins ‘Yellowstone’ franchise, will Season 5 end prematurely?

It sure looks like Matthew McConaughey will be a star in a “yellowstone” extension regardless of what happens with Kevin Costner’s scheduling saga, Paramount CEO Chris McCarthy told the Hollywood Reporter.

McCarthy took pains to clarify that the Paramount drama “wouldn’t be what it is today without Kevin and we hope that that stays for a long time to come,” the entertainment trade website reported.

But in his mind, he said the show will continue with 53-year-old McConaughey whether Costner returns or not.

Kevin Costner locked in dispute with Paramount over ‘Yellowstone’

A report earlier this year on Deadline underscored the tension in the ongoing negotiations between Paramount and Costner, who plays John Dutton in “Yellowstone.”

The two sides are locked in a disagreement over Costner’s desire to shorten the time he has to film the drama’s second half of its fifth season, which is scheduled to air this summer. The 67-year-old star doesn’t want to spend more than a week shooting, according to the Hollywood Reporter.

When Sheridan brought the show’s Season 5 premiere to Fort Worth, most of the stars were on hand to walk the red carpet at the Hotel Drover in the Stockyards. There was one notable star missing: Costner.

According to the Hollywood Reporter, the “dispute raises the startling possibility” the show may end prematurely.

Costner had limited himself to 65 days of shooting for the first half of Season 5, according to Deadline. He wants to truncate his time in front of the camera even more for the second half.

This is partly because Costner is busy directing and starring in “Horizon,” a multi-part western epic he co-wrote with Jon Baird that landed at Warner Bros. Pictures and New Line, according to the Deadline report.

Taylor Sheridan writing Matthew McConaughey into “Yellowstone” extension

That brings up the bit about McConaughey. Apparently no deal has yet been struck, but the voice of Elvis in the new Netflix animated show ‘Agent Elvis’ and star of “Dallas Buyer Club” sure looks to have the inside track in starring in an extension of the popular drama.

What this means is that Paramount and show creator, Taylor Sheriden, are working to write McConaughey in as a star in a “Yellowstone” franchise extension.

According to Deadline, the dispute with Costner is a source of frustration for Sheridan.

“It is understood to be causing morale problems for the other stars of the show, which includes Luke Grimes, Kelly Reilly, Wes Bentley, Cole Hauser, Kelsey Asbille and Gil Birmingham,” the website reported.