Though Kevin Costner reportedly wants to return to Yellowstone’s final episodes, bringing the star back now would reflect poorly on the series.
Bringing back Kevin Costner late could harm Yellowstone’s narrative and suggest it can’t survive without him.
Yellowstone has strong characters like Beth and Rip who can shine without John Dutton.
Taylor Sheridan bringing back Costner now could set a bad precedent for future Yellowstone shows.
After months of rumors, it was recently announced that Kevin Costner wouldn’t be returning for Yellowstone season 5, part 2, however, a new report alleges that Costner wants to return to Yellowstone, and if he does, that spells big trouble for the series. Yellowstone season 5, part 1 ended in January 2023, and in the midst of the SAG-AFTRA strike, conflict arose between Yellowstone star Kevin Costner and series creator, Taylor Sheridan. For many months, it seemed Costner would not return for the Yellowstone’s finale, and eventually, this fact was confirmed. Now, Costner’s going back on his word.
Overall, the issues between Costner and Sheridan over Yellowstone have been ongoing and filled with ups and downs. After so many months of Costner implying that he would not return for Yellowstone season 5, part 2, it is especially strange that the actor is now publicly stating his desire to reprise his role as John Dutton. What makes it even worse is that the scripts for Yellowstone’s finale have already been written without Costner in mind, and filming begins in a few weeks. This leaves Taylor Sheridan in a difficult spot that could make or break Yellowstone’s final installment.
