With Kevin Costner leaving Yellowstone, potential stars like Matthew McConaughey and Josh Lucas may continue the legacy.
Taylor Sheridan brought a whole new world out in the open with his neo-western drama Yellowstone. The show featuring the fictional Dutton family quickly gained popularity when it premiered in 2018. And with the upcoming Season 5 Part 2, the show is all set to create magic on the screen for one last time.
With the anticipation soaring high, the fact that actor Kevin Costner is no longer part of the Yellowstone universe has been a point of heartbreak for the fans. He played the patriarch John Dutton in the show and was part of the drama series since 2018. However, due to several scheduling conflicts and behind-the-scenes drama, the actor left the project after filming the first part of the fifth season.
The trailer for the upcoming season also used up his stills and shots from previous seasons, which gave the fans hope that he might be back in Part 2. However, it’s confirmed that Costner won’t be making an appearance. But on the other hand, there are a number of actors who could (though not confirmed) play John Dutton in the upcoming season.
Matthew McConaughey
Matthew McConaughey is currently one of the most bankable actors in the industry, with several record-breaking projects to his name. In the 1990s, the actor achieved his first breakthrough role with Dazed and Confused, released in 1993. After which he played several supporting roles, ultimately landing his first lead role in the legal drama A Time to Kill in 1996.
The 2000s saw the actor participating in a lot of romantic comedy movies, with How to Lose a Guy in 10 Days and Ghosts of Girlfriends Past earning him a lot of acclaim. So, after such a stellar career graph, it came as no surprise when his name came out in the open for a Yellowstone spin-off. While the actor has yet to address these rumors, he has played a cowboy in the past that earned him his first Academy Award.
In the biopic Dallas Buyers Club, he played the role of Ron Woodroof, a cowboy who was diagnosed with AIDS in 2013. Further, roles like Lone Star and Killer Joe have further established his ability to tackle complex and rugged roles. This acting style would be perfect for the neo-western world that Taylor Sheridan has created.
Bob Odenkirk
Apart from his acting endeavors, Bob Odenkirk is an established writer, having penned several highly acclaimed shows. For instance, he has written for Saturday Night Live, The Ben Stiller Show, and Late Night with Connon O’Brien. These earned him a lot of acclaim as well as an Emmy Award for Outstanding Writing. On the acting front, he is most known for playing Jimmy McGill, aka Saul Goodman, on Breaking Bad.
And he also continued to play the character in its spin-off, Better Call Saul. While he might not be the typical Western hero, he can surely bring a fresh perspective to the show. Further given that, he and Costner share a 7-year age gap (Costner is 69 and Odenkirk is 62), making him the most ideal in the list to play the role of John Dutton.
Josh Lucas
Josh Lucas began his cinematic career at the age of 19 and soon moved to Hollywood after his college graduation. In his early 20s, he made appearances in several sitcoms, such as True Colors, Life Goes On, and Parker Lewis Can’t Lose, to name a few. Slowly he moved towards feature films and made his debut with Frank Marshall’s Alive. The actor has participated in several movies and shows, but he also has a unique Yellowstone connection.
Interestingly, the actor played the younger version of John Dutton in the show and featured in several of the flashback scenes. This makes him the perfect successor to Costner and would also provide good continuity in the show, with a face that fans are already aware of. Further, Sheridan could also bring a prequel based on the life of a young John Dutton. This would help in the further expansion of the show.
Tom Hanks
Tom Hanks can easily be considered one of the most iconic actors of his generation, with several award-winning movies to his name. Though the possibility of him taking part in Sheridan’s Yellowstone is highly unlikely, the heart wants what it wants. The actor did make an appearance in the Yellowstone spinoff 1883 as General George Meade, which obviously caught the fans by surprise.
The second episode of 1883 was titled Behind Us, A Cliff, and he appeared in a James Dutton flashback scene that took the viewers during the American Civil War. So, maybe after this, he might be interested in taking on a much bigger role in the franchise. However, only Taylor Sheridan is capable enough to convince Hanks to get on board with the show.
Chris Pine
Taylor Sheridan and Chris Pine go way back, as the actor played Toby Howard alongside Ben Foster (Tanner Howard) in the 2016 heist thriller Hell or High Water. In this movie, Pine and Foster play brothers who rob banks to save their family ranch. The movie also bagged Sheridan an Oscar nomination for Best Original Screenplay.
In an interview with Esquire, the actor also showcased his desire to collaborate with Sheridan and added, “I love Montana, I love Kevin Costner, I like horses.” If everything works out and if Pine is approached for the role, he might get on board with the project.
Kurt Russell
Out of the lot, when it comes to Western dramas, actor Kurt Russell has the most experience and would be a fantastic fit for the role of John Dutton. The actor started out as a child actor in the cowboy-inspired series The Travels of Jaimie McPheeters. And has also participated in projects like Bone Tomahawk and The Hateful Eight.
With his decades of experience and iconic rugged looks, Russell can easily be a strong fit for the Yellowstone universe. Further, given his immense fan following, viewers are likely to welcome him with open arms if he in fact does get on board with the series.
