The final episodes of Yellowstone could see the return of Kevin Costner’s John Dutton after nearly a year of delays and behind-the-scenes tensions.
A new report about Kevin Costner’s willingness to return to Yellowstone could have finally solved the biggest issue with the show’s final season. The celebrated series was originally set to conclude with the release of the second half of its fifth season in November 2023. However, multiple delays in production and confusion surrounding Costner’s involvement have pushed the respected release date back even further. With filming still not underway on Yellowstone season 5 part 2, the acclaimed series is not expected to be released much before late 2024. The most recent episode of Yellowstone was released back on January 1, 2023.
Costner originally caused controversy when he left Yellowstone in the middle of its final season to work on his anticipated new Horizon: An American Saga movies, which collectively mark his return to feature film directing for the first time since 2003’s Open Range. Now that both Horizon and Horizon 2 have set 2024 release dates of June 28th and August 16th, respectively, new reports suggest that Costner is now expressing interest in returning to Yellowstone to properly complete John Dutton’s story. Costner is reportedly interested in returning to the series, even if it is only for a brief cameo.
Kevin Costner Being Willing To Appear In Yellowstone Season 5 Is The Biggest Obstacle
Costner was not willing to prioritize Yellowstone over Horizon , a Western franchise that could backfire based on its ambition alone.
Now that Costner has reportedly flipped the script and wishes to return to Yellowstone for its final season, the issue then falls into the hands of creator and showrunner Taylor Sheridan. Before Costner had abruptly exited the project in 2023, there was no indication that Yellowstone would be ending anytime in the near future. Shortly after Costner’s announcement, Sheridan and Paramount confirmed that the entire series would end after its fifth season. Costner was reportedly making over $1 million per episode during Yellowstone’s season 5, part 1, but Costner was more concerned about his schedule and completing Horizon than making money on Yellowstone.
Costner had already expressed before Yellowstone season 5 began shooting that he was looking to spend less time on set. Costner told the Yellowstone production team that he would only be available for 65 days of shooting for the first part of season 5, a number that Costner later shortened to only 50 days of shooting. This set a clear trend that Costner was not willing to prioritize Yellowstone over Horizon, a Western franchise that could backfire based on its ambition alone. Sheridan and Paramount have been moving forward without Costner, but now he reportedly wants back in on Yellowstone despite filming starting soon and scripts finalized, which complicates things.
Why Kevin Costner Isn’t Currently Appearing In Yellowstone Season 5, Part 2
The lack of adequate funding for Horizon 3 & 4 could contribute to Costner’s recent desire to return to Yellowstone.
It’s no secret that Costner and Sheridan were not seeing eye to eye about the future of Yellowstone in 2023. The series has suffered multiple delays and behind-the-scenes tensions that were never resolved between Costner, Sheridan, and Paramount. Paramount tried working with Costner to accommodate his shooting requirements for the second part of season 5. Costner had indicated that he only wanted to shoot a total of 10 production days for the remaining six episodes although his John Dutton character was the bonafide star of the series that held everything together. Yellowstone’s writers had adjusted for Dutton’s onscreen absence, only for Costner to reemerge in the final hour.
While Horizon is certainly a gamble that few actors in Hollywood would have the ambition or resources to pursue, especially considering what was given up to make it, Costner’s upcoming movie looks promising from its trailer alone. The Horizon franchise has already faced some financial concerns, considering Costner is trying to raise money for the third and fourth installments before Horizon 1 & 2 even come out. Both Horizon movies reportedly have budgets at or above $100 million and are ultimately huge investment risks. The lack of adequate funding for Horizon3 & 4 could contribute to Costner’s recent desire to return to Yellowstone.
Yellowstone’s Ending May Be Better Without John Dutton At This Point
Another rewritten Yellowstone script would essentially force Dutton into the plot just for the sake of closure and fan service.
With all the behind-the-scenes drama that now hangs over the final season of Yellowstone, it could be for the best that Costner stays out of it altogether. Paramount and Sheridan have already adjusted to his surprising decision to leave the franchise, and it could be too little too late for Costner to effectively end John Dutton’s story. Even if Dutton returns to Yellowstone in a cameo or the series finale, it would be the result of another rewritten script that would essentially force Dutton into the plot just for the sake of closure and fan service. Costner decided to exit Yellowstone for Horizon, causing nearly a year of delays and behind-the-scenes tension that may be irrecoverable.
