'He's worth it': Matthew McConaughey 'angry' as 'Yellowstone' producers mull $2.5M per episode demand
LOS ANGELES, CALIFORNIA: Matthew McConaughey is reportedly bargaining for a massive $2.5 million per episode salary for the proposed ‘Yellowstone’ spinoff, but the producers are still contemplating on whether to accede to the asking rate.
As per sources who claimed to National Enquirer per RadarOnline, McConaughey, 54, believes he is the key element for the ‘Yellowstone’ spinoff to be a success in the post-Kevin Costner era.
‘There's a real possibility Matthew will just move on’
The sources close to the Oscar-winning star told the National Enquirer, "Matthew and his team know he's the number one creative choice for the post-Kevin version of 'Yellowstone' that's being planned.”
However, they also added that the production studio is still unsure whether they are willing to pay his asking price, saying, “Paramount is dragging its feet on his $2.5 million per episode asking price — and there's a real possibility Matthew will just move on.”
Since the deal is yet to be sealed, the insiders warned there is still a chance that McConaughey might just walk out from the proposed project.
They continued, "The expectation was that once the Hollywood strikes ended, sealing the deal would be a quick process but they're really dragging their feet on meeting his demands!"
The insiders further added that the show’s creator Taylor Sheridan is particularly cautious about the entire scenario, leaving McConaughey into a state of darkness.
The sources revealed, "He's getting angry he doesn't have clarity on when exactly this job would even start if they do come to an agreement.”
The source further continued, "No deal Matthew has ever made has taken this long, especially after he won an Oscar for 'Dallas Buyers Club'," before adding, "But 'Yellowstone' is a monolith unto itself, and producers are wondering if it's worth it."
However, the source concluded by saying if McConaughey doesn’t get his desired salary, he would be bidding adieu to the project, saying, "Matt wants to make this deal. His demands may be sky-high but he feels he's worth it — and the powers that be better get their act together or he'll be saying adios, amigos!"
What will proposed 'Yellowstone' spinoff be named?
Though the name of the series has not been finalized yet, it is tentatively called the '2024'. Per Esquire, the limited series will air immediately after the conclusion of season five of 'Yellowstone' in November 2024.
While announcing the two spin-off series by the name '1944' and '2024', Chris McCarthy, President/CEO, Showtime & MTV Entertainment Studios, said, "Within five years, we grew 'Yellowstone' from a hit U.S. cable show with five million viewers into a global hit franchise with over 100 million fans around the world and multiple extensions – and, we’re just getting started."
He added, "On the heels of 1883 and 1923’s success, our new planned spinoffs, '1944' and '2024', will take audiences on a thrilling, new and unexpected journey with the complex and compelling storytelling that has become a hallmark of the franchise and has helped turn it into a worldwide cultural phenomenon – thanks to the creative mastermind of Taylor Sheridan."
