“Kevin Costner’s Involvement in the Final Episodes of ‘Yellowstone’ Season 5: What We Know So Far”
Over the past year, Kevin Costner made it clear that he had severed ties with “Yellowstone.” However, the first teaser for the upcoming second half of Season 5 features him prominently, with Costner’s character, John Dutton, discussing legacies as he often does.
This appearance in the trailer surprised many fans, especially since earlier promotional photos for the new episodes focused on the new generation of Duttons and excluded Costner entirely. The confusion is compounded by Costner’s earlier statements, made just months ago when filming for the season resumed, that he would not be involved in the new episodes.
So, what’s the real story behind Costner’s role in the new episodes? Here’s what we know so far:
Will Kevin Costner Appear in the Second Half of “Yellowstone” Season 5?
Despite Costner’s previous statements, it looks like he will indeed appear. The teaser trailer released by Paramount Network for the show’s return in November features Costner’s character prominently. In the trailer, viewers see Costner in two scenes: one on the ranch and another with his right-hand man Rip (Cole Hauser) as something off-screen burns.
Costner had previously claimed that his schedule wouldn’t allow him to film new episodes, leading to speculation that these scenes were shot in 2022, before his highly-publicized fallout with creator Taylor Sheridan. The Hollywood Reporter also indicated that Costner was not attached to the new episodes when filming resumed in May, suggesting these scenes might have been leftover from the first half of Season 5 and were cut from earlier episodes for unknown reasons.
Requests for comment from Costner’s representatives and the production companies behind the series, MTV Entertainment Studios and 101 Studios, went unanswered.
Will Kevin Costner’s Character Die in “Yellowstone”?
Though Costner’s character appears alive and well in the teaser, there have been suggestions that the series might conclude with his character’s death. Early in the show, John Dutton’s struggle with cancer was a major plot point, which added tension to his decisions regarding the future of the ranch. This storyline was later retconned, and there has been no recent mention of John’s health.
However, Sheridan has hinted that the series could end with John’s demise, suggesting that his fate was planned from the early days of the show. Given that Sheridan originally intended for John to die at the end of Season 1, it’s plausible that the show could conclude with this storyline, culminating in a final resolution of the Dutton succession.
Why Did Kevin Costner Leave “Yellowstone”?
In 2023, following the midseason finale of Season 5, reports surfaced about the show’s future being uncertain due to a reported conflict between Sheridan and Costner. According to Deadline, the two had disagreements over the filming schedule for the new episodes. Costner’s commitments to his “Horizon” film series, in which he plays multiple roles including director, producer, and writer, were cited as a significant factor.
The situation escalated publicly, with allegations of Costner only being willing to commit a week to the set and Sheridan purportedly delaying script approvals. Costner even suggested he might pursue legal action over a pay dispute related to the second half of Season 5.
