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 wordOverall, 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.
If Taylor Sheridan decides to bring Kevin Costner back in Yellowstone season 5, part 2, it would be like admitting that the series doesn’t work without him. Throughout the conflict between Costner and Sheridan, audiences worried about what Yellowstone would look like without Kevin Costner, and for good reason. Costner’s John Dutton is the center of the story due to his role as Dutton patriarch and owner of Dutton Ranch.
However, Costner’s absence never meant that Yellowstone would fail.
In fact, Sheridan writing the scripts for the finale without Costner in mind proves that the series still works without him.
However, these strides that Sheridan made would mean nothing if he brought Costner back to the show. If Sheridan threw his new scripts away and rewrote the series’ ending for Costner, it would be like a form of defeat. Sheridan would be implying that the Yellowstone he planned to make without Costner was not going to be worth it. In this way, Costner would win in every aspect of this conflict. By refusing to return for the show’s last episodes, then being brought back in any way, Kevin Costner would prove that his presence in the project is absolutely necessary.
