Hold onto your cowboy hats, because the Dutton siblings are ready to hog the spotlight once again as the second half of Yellowstone Season 5 gears up for its much-anticipated return in November. But you might notice there’s something fishy—or rather, someone missing—Kevin Costner’s rugged patriarch, John Dutton, is nowhere to be seen in the latest snaps. Why?
However, Taylor Sheridan, the mastermind behind the show, is feeling the heat. Fans are letting him know they’re not exactly showering him with praise. The final season’s teaser suggests that Costner’s character might be facing some seriously rough terrain after his dramatic exit.
As they say, “you reap what you sow,” and it looks like Sheridan is about to find out just how prickly those consequences can be. From Beth Dutton’s poker face alongside Rip Wheeler to Jamie Dutton turning press conferences into his personal soapbox, the second half promises to bring enough drama to fill a barn.
Taylor Sheridan’s Yellowstone Are Alienating Viewers
It seems Kevin Costner’s gruff patriarch has taken a powder in the first teaser photos from the final season of Yellowstone. As the show gears up to return to the ranch later this year, it’s clear that John Dutton’s absence will be a major talking point.
In the latest teasers (via EW), power couple Beth Dutton (Kelly Reilly) and Rip Wheeler (Cole Hauser) are front and center, looking like they could wrestle a grizzly bear while making it look easy. Meanwhile, Attorney General Jamie Dutton (Wes Bentley) is rubbing elbows with former governor Lynelle Perry (Wendy Moniz) at a press conference, as if he’s running for office—again!
On the family front, Kayce Dutton (Luke Grimes), his wife Monica (Kelsey Asbille), and their son Tate (Brecken Merrill) are shown recovering nicely from their car crash. In another photo, Thomas Rainwater (Gil Birmingham) and his trusty sidekick Mo Brings Plenty are gazing off into the distance, perhaps contemplating the next big move.
As for the missing John Dutton, it’s anyone’s guess how the show will handle his absence. With Costner bowing out due to his commitment to the Horizon film franchise, the final stretch of Season 5 might see John becoming collateral damage in the sibling showdown between Beth and Jamie.
Rumors of a spat between Costner and creator Taylor Sheridan have swirled, but the latter, who admitted he was “disappointed” by the actor’s exit, has brushed off these rumors (via THR). According to Sheridan, Costner’s commitment to his Horizon films was the real reason behind his departure.
Kevin Costner’s Absence: Fans React to New Yellowstone Season 5 Pictures
Taylor Sheridan is in hot water with Yellowstone viewers, who are less than thrilled about the show’s final season teaser, which hints at a rough patch for Kevin Costner’s character.
Let’s see what fans are howling about:
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Costner, who was the heartbeat of the series both in front of and behind the camera, had poured his heart and wallet into Yellowstone. But in June, he took to Instagram to drop the bombshell that he wouldn’t be returning to finish Yellowstone.
Meanwhile, Costner later explained to USA TODAY:
Simply with all the questions that were being asked, the longer I thought about that … I just wanted to say that this is a stepping-off point. Whatever I’d hoped for maybe was not in the cards. I don’t want to keep saying, ‘Yeah, I hope I can do it.’
Sheridan is expanding the Yellowstone universe with several spinoffs, including The Madison, featuring Michelle Pfeiffer as a matriarch who moves her family from the Big Apple to Montana. Anyway, looks like the former’s luck might have run out faster than a jackrabbit on a hot skillet, as fans continue to grumble about the saga’s sour ending.
Yellowstone Season 5’s second part will air on November 10, 2024.
You can stream Yellowstone on Paramount+.
