Scott Eastwood recounted a story about his father, Clint Eastwood, humbling Kevin Costner on the set of their 1993 film "A Perfect World." The anecdote, shared on Dax Shepard's podcast "Armchair Expert," details an incident where Clint Eastwood reportedly asserted his authority over Costner, who was then experiencing a significant rise in his career.
According to Scott Eastwood, Costner, having recently won Oscars for "Dances with Wolves," may have developed a "big ego." He described an instance where Costner refused to leave his trailer for a scene, a practice that did not align with his father's approach to filmmaking. Clint Eastwood, known for his hands-on style, allegedly instructed the crew to send Costner home if he would not come to set. "Well, send him home then," Scott Eastwood recalled his father saying, despite Costner being scheduled for a scene. When informed that Costner was in the scene, the crew conveyed Clint Eastwood's response: "Clint changed that. So you know that's the pecking order."
Scott Eastwood suggested that this intervention quickly shifted Costner's on-set behavior, as he reportedly arrived on set ready to work the following day. Clint Eastwood directed "A Perfect World," which starred both himself and Costner.
Costner has more recently been involved in reports of on-set friction, notably his departure from the series "Yellowstone" in 2024. His exit, attributed to scheduling conflicts with his Western film franchise "Horizon," led to his character being killed off early in the latter half of the show's fifth season. Paramount claimed Costner refused to shoot additional episodes, while the actor stated that contract disputes and script delays contributed to the situation.
Costner defended showrunner Taylor Sheridan, asserting that he prioritized "Yellowstone" and denied initiating disputes. He claimed that the streaming service sought contract amendments due to Sheridan's writing challenges. Costner's attorney, Marty Singer, has also refuted claims that Costner was only willing to film one week for the final episodes, calling such suggestions "ridiculous" and an "absolute lie."