3 Years After Kevin Costner’s Exit, Yellowstone’s New Leading Man Has Finally Arrived

3 years after his final Yellowstone episode, the Western franchise finally has a replacement for Kevin Costner. Despite his premature exit from the celebrated Taylor Sheridan series, Costner has remained the face of the Yellowstone franchise for his portrayal of John Dutton, the patriarch of the Dutton family. His absence has left massive shoes to fill.

Despite stars like Billy Bob Thornton and Harrison Ford stepping into leading male roles in Taylor Sheridan’s shows, there’s yet to be a character with the widespread appeal of John Dutton. Costner is one of the biggest and most recognizable movie stars of all time, and to see him leading a Western TV show, armed with top-notch dialogue, was an exciting prospect.

Kurt Russell Is The Perfect Kevin Costner Replacement

Image by Yailin Chacon

Recent reports revealed that Kurt Russell would be joining the cast of The Madison as a series regular. This is an upcoming Yellowstone spinoff that’s set to premiere in 2026, and already stars Michelle Pfeiffer (Scarface), Matthew Fox (Lost), and Patrick J. Adams (Suits).

If there’s one man who can offer a similar appeal to Kevin Costner in Yellowstone, it’s Kurt Russell. Many of Russell’s career highlights came around the same time as Costner’s, with films like Escape from New York and Tombstone appealing to a similar audience pool. His name will certainly stand out in the show’s targeted demographic.

At 74 years old, Kurt Russell is still delivering high-quality performances, recently starring in the Apple TV+ Godzilla series, Monarch: Legacy of Monsters. The actor also has extensive experience in the Western genre, with an excellent resume of Bone Tomahawk, The Hateful Eight, and, of course, the aforementioned Tombstone.

Funnily enough, Kurt Russell and Kevin Costner both famously played the same Western character: Wyatt Earp. Following Tombstone’s success, Costner starred in the film Wyatt Earp the next year, playing the role Russell had so expertly portrayed. Costner’s film wasn’t as big a success, but it’s still a fun connection.

When Will Kurt Russell Debut In The Yellowstone Franchise?

Kurt Russell’s The Madison casting is somewhat misleading, as the report didn’t state which season he would be starring in. As far as we know, The Madison season 1 wrapped filming in January 2025. The show is currently in post-production and set to premiere in early 2026. I don’t think Russell will appear prominently in it.

That said, The Madison is already renewed for a second season, which is set to begin filming this Fall. I imagine this will be the season Kurt Russell appears in, meaning his Yellowstone debut might not be until late 2026 or early 2027.