With its riveting tales of the Dutton family, Taylor Sheridan’s popular neo-Western series Yellowstone has commanded viewer attention and opened the door for an ever-expanding universe of spinoffs. Among these, fans are intrigued by the idea of a series that would focus on Josh Lucas’ portrayal of a young John Dutton.
Even though the second half of season 5 of the adored Paramount+ series is wrapping up and will premiere later this year, fans still have a lot to look forward to. Since Lucas so brilliantly played Kevin Costner’s rancher in Yellowstone’s first season, fans have been raving, as they still want to see more of the actor in that role.
In his interviews, Lucas was asked if he would consider starring in a spinoff for Paramount, and his response was as bright as the show itself.
Josh Lucas on the Future of Yellowstone: A Young John Dutton Spinoff?
Through a series of flashbacks, Josh Lucas—best known for playing the younger, more vulnerable version of the formidable John Dutton (played by Kevin Costner in the current timeline)—has given the character more nuance and complexity. His portrayal has added nuance to the story, giving viewers a glimpse into the origins of the Dutton family patriarch.
Speaking with Screen Rant, Lucas, 52, expressed how excited he was about the idea of a prequel series centered around his character:
“It was a crazy almost duality or bipolar reality because obviously John Dutton is a dark, powerful mysterious figure, and I’m basing it all on what Kevin has done, but I also think it’s a world that I would absolutely love to explore further.”
In the meantime, the actor also informed Deadline that, “as far as he knows”, he will be playing a younger John Dutton in Yellowstone, which is anticipated to go back into production shortly. Continuing, he added:
“I did text Taylor [Sheridan] a couple of months back and said, ‘hey man, I’ve loved working on the show so much. He’s like, ‘well we’ll be back.”
Additionally, Lucas stated that “10 or more so episodes” will be produced for the last chapter. Though a prequel about a young John Dutton might be in development, the current emphasis is on already-planned spinoffs such as 1944 and 6666.
Josh Lucas Dished on the Final Season of Yellowstone
Ever since Josh Lucas so brilliantly played Kevin Costner’s rancher in Yellowstone’s first season, fans have been clamoring for the actor to reprise the role of young John Dutton. Speaking about the possibility of Lucas starring in his own spinoff, the actor told ET:
“Man, from your lips to God’s ears. I would love it. I mean, obviously I love the world Taylor has created. I love seeing the generational aspect, the time aspect, obviously the 1800s on. So yeah, I would be there in a second.”
Meanwhile, the return of Costner is still up in the air. In February 2023, Deadline exclusively revealed that a disagreement regarding his availability during Season 5 was the reason behind his departure.
The idea of a spinoff focused on John Dutton’s early years is still exciting for both fans and creators, despite the unclear timeline. There is definitely room for more stories to be told, based on Taylor Sheridan’s proven ability to successfully expand the Yellowstone universe.
The fifth and final season’s first half debuted on November 13, 2022, and the second half is expected to air on November 10, 2024.
Stream Yellowstone on Peacock Premium.
