Lawrence Kasdan on Martin Short’s Emmy triumph — and the Kevin Costner cut that changed a classic

Lawrence Kasdan just had one of those full-circle weeks: Emmy love for his Martin Short doc, plus a fresh look back at the brutal but right call that once chopped Kevin Costner out of a movie and, weirdly, helped set up the guy’s western run decades later.

Emmy nods for Marty, Life Is Short

Kasdan picked up two Emmy nominations for his Netflix documentary Marty, Life Is Short, which spotlights his longtime friend Martin Short using never-before-seen footage and new interviews. The film is nominated for outstanding documentary, and Kasdan is up for directing. The editors, Sierra Neal and Bennett Piscitelli, were also recognized for their work. The doc hit Netflix on May 12, 2026.

"It ’s nothing I was thinking about while trying to make this movie as good as we could."

"I was trying to honor my commitments to my friend and be fair about everything."

That sums up Kasdan’s approach pretty neatly: loyalty first, then sweat the craft until it sings.

The Big Chill cut that changed things

Kasdan’s history with tough choices goes back to 1983 and The Big Chill, the ensemble drama with Glenn Close, Kevin Kline, William Hurt, Jeff Goldblum, and more. Kevin Costner shot flashback scenes for the movie… which Kasdan then cut to keep the story locked in the present. He told Deadline in May what he told Costner at the time:

"Look, I got some bad news."

Costner took it on the chin:

"That’s okay, Larry."

And it wasn’t a total loss for him. Costner has said the month-long rehearsal period on that film ended up being the best education of his early career. Still, getting sliced out of a high-profile release hurts, no matter how zen you are about it.

Making good: Silverado and the western domino effect

Kasdan felt the grace in how Costner handled it and made a promise to make it right. He followed through with Silverado in 1985, casting Costner as the live-wire gunslinger Jake alongside The Big Chill alums Kevin Kline and Jeff Goldblum. That western turned into a launchpad for Costner, nudging him toward the lane he would later dominate with Yellowstone.

Yellowstone, exits, and the growing Dutton-verse

Costner eventually led Yellowstone for five seasons as John Dutton, the ranch patriarch at the center of Taylor Sheridan’s TV empire. He exited ahead of the show’s finale, but the franchise kept expanding: prequels 1883 and 1923, the upcoming 1944, and current entries Marshals and Dutton Ranch are now carrying the banner. If you’re trying to watch in chronological order, the suggested path is: 1883, 1923, 1944, Yellowstone, Marshals, then Dutton Ranch. The 6666 spinoff is still in development. And yes, there was chatter back on August 27, 2024, that the series could return for a Season 6 without Costner, with Kelly Reilly and Cole Hauser in talks to headline.

How it all lined up

• 1983: Kasdan cuts Costner’s filmed flashbacks from The Big Chill to keep the story present-tense.
• 1985: Kasdan keeps his promise and casts Costner in Silverado, alongside Kevin Kline and Jeff Goldblum.
• Years later: Costner anchors Yellowstone for five seasons before exiting ahead of the finale, as the franchise branches into 1883, 1923, 1944, Marshals, and Dutton Ranch, with 6666 on the runway.
• 2026: Kasdan’s friendship- first approach pays off again with Marty, Life Is Short landing Emmy nominations for the film, his direction, and the editing team.

It’s a tidy irony: the guy who once cut his friend out of a movie is now getting Emmy recognition for a film built on honoring a friend. Different projects, same compass.