Kevin Costner Reportedly Wants To Return To ‘Yellowstone’ – ‘Hopes To Leverage’ Fan Support

After all the drama behind the scenes on the hit show “Yellowstone,” many fans had given up hope that Kevin Costner would ever return as John Dutton to finish out the final season of the show. That’s why it’s come as a major shock that new reports are indicating that Costner may want to return after all!

Costner Allegedly Wants To Return To ‘Yellowstone’

Outkick reported that Costner is rumored to want to return to “Yellowstone” to finish out the show despite the issues he had with the program’s creator Taylor Sheridan behind the scenes.

“As for the final episodes of Yellowstone O.G., they’re already written, and shooting is set to begin in a few weeks,” reporter Matthew Belloni wrote for Puck. “Kevin Costner has been telling people he’s planning to return for at least a cameo and possibly more, but there are currently no discussions for him to do that.”

“Even if Costner significantly lowers his financial and time commitment demands, Sheridan may not want to bother reopening his finished scripts to accommodate a send-off for John Dutton,” Belloni continued. “But the ‘Yellowstone’ fans would certainly love it, which Costner knows and hopes to leverage, as he always does.”

Related: ‘Yellowstone’ Star Forrie J. Smith Says He Was ‘Kicked Off’ Flight For Refusing To Sit Next To Someone Wearing Mask

Sheridan Addresses His Issues With Costner

It seems that returning to “Yellowstone” may not be so easy for Costner at this point, however, as Sheridan could very well have had enough of him. In an interview with The Hollywood Reporter in June of last year, Sheridan let his feelings for Costner be known.

“My opinion of Kevin as an actor hasn’t altered,” Sheridan said at the time. “His creation of John Dutton is symbolic and powerful … and I’ve never had an issue with Kevin that he and I couldn’t work out on the phone.”

“But once lawyers get involved, then people don’t get to talk to each other and start saying things that aren’t true and attempt to shift blame based on how the press or public seem to be reacting,” he added. “He took a lot of this on the chin and I don’t know that anyone deserves it.”

Sheridan went on to say that he believes that Costner’s upcoming Civil War four-film saga Horizon is the former Dances With Wolves star’s main priority these days.

“His movie seems to be a great priority to him and he wants to shift focus. I sure hope [the movie is] worth it — and that it’s a good one,” Sheridan stated. “I’m disappointed. It truncates the closure of his character. It doesn’t alter it, but it truncates it.”

Related: Kevin Costner Responds To Rumors He Got Woman Pregnant On ‘Yellowstone’ Set

Sheridan’s Alleged ‘God Complex’

Earlier in 2023, sources told Daily Mail that Sheridan developed a “God complex” on the set of “Yellowstone” that led to his falling out with Costner. One source alleged that Sheridan told Costner to “stick to acting” after the star tried to express his concerns for the direction the show was taking.

“Kevin will forever be proud of and grateful for Yellowstone and the cast is like family to him,” the insider said. “He just felt like ‘Yellowstone’ is headed in a direction that was not in line with their initial vision and he was met with criticism, including that he should just stick to acting.”

“It’s the same as with any show runner and big star — there’s respect, but there’s friction,” another “well placed” source said of the issues between Sheridan and Costner.

“Yellowstone” has been one of the most popular shows on television for years, and Costner has played a huge role in the show’s success. While it would certainly be understandable if Sheridan was reluctant to have Costner back after everything that has happened, it would also make fans very excited if the iconic character of John Dutton could get the sendoff that he deserves!