“‘Yellowstone’ Season 5, Part 2 Teaser: Could This Be Kevin Costner’s Final Farewell as John Dutton?”

Kevin Costner returns to the ranch for the second part of “Yellowstone” Season 5, but speculation is rife about whether this might mark his final appearance as John Dutton. The upcoming episodes, set to debut this fall, are expected to showcase what many believe to be Costner’s exit from the series. However, ongoing legal disputes and mixed reports suggest that he might make another appearance in the Taylor Sheridan-created show.

“Yellowstone” centers on the Dutton family, with Costner’s character John Dutton at the helm of the largest contiguous cattle ranch in the U.S. The series delves into the conflicts between the Duttons and neighboring entities, including an expanding town, a Native American reservation, and America’s first national park. The drama unfolds amidst shifting alliances, unresolved murders, and deep-seated tensions. The cast also includes Wes Bentley, Kelly Reilly, and Luke Grimes.

The show was co-created by Oscar-nominated screenwriter Taylor Sheridan and John Linson. Alongside Sheridan and Linson, executive producers include Art Linson, David C. Glasser, Bob Yari, Stephen Kay, Michael Friedman, Christina Voros, and Keith Cox. Paramount Global Content Distribution handles the series’ distribution.

After a nearly two-year hiatus, “Yellowstone” Season 5 is set to resume, following speculation that it might be Costner’s final season. Despite earlier rumors, Costner indicated to Entertainment Tonight that he had hoped to continue for seven seasons. However, he later posted a video announcing his departure, stating, “I just realized that I’m not going to be able to continue Season 5B or into the future. It was something that really changed me. I loved it, and I know you loved it. And I just wanted to let you know that I won’t be returning. I love the relationship we’ve been able to develop, and I’ll see you at the movies.”

In an interview with IndieWire, Costner suggested that his film franchise, “Horizon: An American Saga,” which premiered in 2024, might have influenced Sheridan’s prequel concepts for “Yellowstone.” He remarked, “I don’t know if there’s any duplications there. Whether he borrowed something, only he’d have to admit to.”

Regarding his exit from “Yellowstone,” Costner explained, “What’s been said, it’s just so off base. I was only going to do one episode or once a season. And then I helped them and I did five seasons and made a contract literally to do the last three — 5, 6, and 7. They just quit hitting the mark on their scripts. And then we basically had one year that was completely wiped off the map [and] they didn’t tell anybody. Fourteen months later, I could never have that happen to me again. So I kept ‘Yellowstone’ in the first position, but they had to stick with their contract. And when they were done, then I would do ‘Horizon,’ not vice versa. It’s as simple as that.”

Despite his departure, Costner acknowledges that “Yellowstone” will likely continue without him. He remains open to returning, contingent on the quality of the scripts. For now, “Horizon” takes precedence in his career.