Yellowstone’s Kevin Costner Has One Condition To Return As John Dutton

The production of Yellowstone has been rocked by behind-the-scenes drama, particularly with Kevin Costner’s exit ahead of season 5B. Tensions began after season 5A aired in 2022, when Costner became frustrated with the show’s shooting schedule and the delays caused by the Hollywood strikes. At the same time, Costner was eager to focus on his passion project, Horizon: An American Saga, a series of Western films, but was reportedly unable to commit to both the film and Yellowstone. He claimed that he hadn’t received scripts for the second half of season 5, which led to his decision to leave the series.

Costner’s departure has sparked speculation about how Yellowstone will end, especially with John Dutton’s character central to the show’s success. Despite the drama, it’s been reported that Sheridan always envisioned Yellowstone running for five seasons, with the show’s ending already planned out. Fans are expecting John Dutton to be written out, possibly through death, which would mark a major shift in the story. Sheridan will likely ensure that the character’s departure is handled with care, especially given Costner’s contract, which included a stipulation for a “moral death” for his character.

Even though Costner is leaving, he’s expressed openness to returning to Yellowstone if the conditions are right. In an interview, he stated that he would be interested in coming back if the story felt right to him. However, he also acknowledged the ongoing tension between him, Sheridan, and Paramount, making a return seem unlikely. For now, it appears that Costner’s character, John Dutton, will be written out in the finale of season 5B, which is already in the works.

Costner has hinted that he has his own ideas for how his character could exit, though he’s left the final decision up to Sheridan. With the show’s future uncertain, Yellowstone fans will have to wait to see how the Dutton family’s saga concludes—and whether or not Costner’s John Dutton will make a return, either in future episodes or through a special event, if the conditions change.