Kevin Costner Discusses Hopes for ‘Yellowstone’ Return, John Dutton’s Fate

Kevin Costner doesn’t think his work with Yellowstone is over. The Western drama has been a massive hit. Fans have awaited the show’s return for over a year now, and The Bodyguard star’s involvement has been a major subject of conversation as the series ends. There’s been reported behind-the-scenes drama between Costner, who portrays John Dutton, and the show’s co-creator, Taylor Sheridan. In an interview with Entertainment Tonight, Costner spoke about whether he’d one day return.

“I’d like to be able to do it but we haven’t been able to,” Costner said. “…I thought I was going to make seven [seasons] but right now we’re at five. So how it works out — I hope it does — but they’ve got a lot of different shows going on. Maybe it will. Maybe this will circle back to me. If it does and I feel really comfortable with [it], I’d love to do it.”

As for how his character’s story is wrapped up, Costner said: “Well, you know, he needs to be proactive in what happens and I’ve kind of had my own fantasy how it might be, but that’s Taylor’s thing. I said as much to him a while back. I had thoughts how it could happen, but we just have to see.”

Premiering in 2018 on the Paramount Network, Yellowstone centers on a patriarch and a dysfunctional family of ranchers. John Dutton controls the largest contiguous ranch in the country whose property conflicts with its borders — an ever-growing town, an Indian reservation, and America’s first national park.

Costner reportedly held up the production schedule ahead of shooting Season 5. It was later confirmed he wouldn’t be returning at all. In an interview with The Hollywood Reporter, Sheridan spoke on whether his feelings about Costner have changed.

“My opinion of Kevin as an actor hasn’t altered,” Sheridan said. “His creation of John Dutton is symbolic and powerful … and I’ve never had an issue with Kevin that he and I couldn’t work out on the phone. But once lawyers get involved, then people don’t get to talk to each other and start saying things that aren’t true and attempt to shift blame based on how the press or public seem to be reacting. He took a lot of this on the chin and I don’t know that anyone deserves it.”