Kevin Costner potentially leaving Yellowstone is not so much as a disadvantage as it is an opportunity for Taylor Sheridan to give his flagship Neo-Western a much-needed shakeup. Costner's camp has denied rumors of the show's lead actor leaving, assuring viewers of the actor's commitment to delivering Yellowstone season 5, part 2. Though Sheridan has revealed that an ending is in sight, Yellowstone's stellar ratings will doubtless inspire Paramount to order a follow-up. That said, Yellowstone seasons 4 and 5 have been criticized for meandering and taking too long to reach their intended climax - a pattern that may continue in future seasons.
Kevin Costner's John Dutton leaving Yellowstone might just be the change that Taylor Sheridan needs in order to break from this pattern. Whether it's due to Sheridan's time being divided between the show and his upcoming Yellowstone spinoff series, or just the sheer fatigue of developing a grand narrative across five seasons, the show's writing has suffered over the years. If Yellowstone is to continue beyond seasons 5 and 6, losing Costner could be the challenge that Sheridan needs in order to turn the show into the greatest Neo-Western tale of the century.
Costner's Exit Would Force Yellowstone To Be Better
Kevin Costner leaving Yellowstone would be devastating because he's the heart and soul of the show, but it would force Taylor Sheridan to try something new. Over the years, Costner's immense screen presence has been a crutch for Yellowstone. Sheridan created an engrossing world and plot, but it wouldn't be an understatement to say that Yellowstone remains popular largely because of Kevin Costner's keystone performance as John Dutton. Though it's been confirmed that Costner will continue to have a crucial role in Yellowstone season 5 part 2, should the actor leave after that, his exit can serve as Sheridan's opportunity to put Yellowstone on the map from a critical standpoint.
Theoretically, it wouldn't even be that difficult for Sheridan to recalibrate Yellowstone. Kevin Costner has established such a great character that John Dutton's physical absence, in itself, is already a powerful storytelling device on its own. It's a challenging prospect, but not exactly a tall order for Sheridan, considering the level of his writing in past projects like Sicario, Wind River, or even 1923. In fact, even without John Dutton, well-established and currently underutilized characters like Beth, Rip, Kayce, Chief Thomas Rainwater, Mo, Angela Blue-Thunder, and Sarah Atwood are more than enough to lay the groundwork for a satisfying conclusion to the show in Yellowstone season 6 or 7.
John Dutton's Yellowstone Story Doesn't Need To End
Kevin Costner leaving Yellowstone doesn't even need to be the end of John Dutton's story. Yellowstone's young John Dutton actor Josh Lucas already showed how flashbacks can reveal things about both John and the Duttons. Moreover, if John succeeds at finalizing a conservation agreement for the Dutton Ranch in Yellowstone season 5, part 2, this may put an end to the federal government's plans to run a pipeline through the Broken Rock reservation, potentially paving the path for Governor John Dutton's way to the U.S. Senate. Yellowstone could use this to viably justify John's absence without straying from the show's core themes, as the main story continues back in Montana.
Yellowstone, alongside spinoffs that exist in the same universe such as the upcoming 6666 series, could also continue to feature either Kevin Costner or Josh Lucas' young John Dutton in surprise cameo roles. Further down the Dutton family tree, as Jamie's son, Tate, and Carter get older, it would also be interesting to see how they've been shaped by the legacy of John Dutton. Though a full-blown Yellowstone prequel starring Josh Lucas' John Dutton would undoubtedly be interesting to see, even just references to the man through dialog or plot elements can leverage Kevin Costner's generous performance as the Dutton patriarch.