Despite exiting the series prior to when its final season began production, Kevin Costner‘s John Dutton is still an integral part of the last season of Yellowstone.
Speaking to The Hollywood Reporter, director Christina Voros was asked about Costner’s status in the show, and said that Dutton was still very much an “integral” presence in the last season.
“His presence is integral. I think to say any more than that would potentially compromise all the work that went into redacting the scripts!” said Voros. “But I think the reason people are wondering, “Is he, isn’t he? Where is he, where is he not?” is because he is the patriarch and his presence is an essential component to the story. John Dutton is still central.”
How does Yellowstone finale handle Dutton?
Costner infamously left Yellowstone after a back-and-forth negotiation with Paramount. In the end, Costner didn’t return to the series, as he was busy making his western film series that began with Horizon: An American Saga. Despite the exit, Voros said that Yellowstone creator Taylor Sheridan still made the finale work.
“It made me feel really lucky to get to direct it,” Voros said. “Taylor always has a sense of where something is going to end and the joy is watching him find how we get there. So all I can say is, when I read the scripts, I felt tremendously grateful to be a part of telling this chapter in the story.”
The remaining episodes of the final installment will start to debut on Sunday, November 10 at 8 p.m. ET/PT.
Yellowstone “chronicles the Dutton family, led by John Dutton, who controls the largest contiguous cattle ranch in the United States,” per the synopsis. “Amid shifting alliances, unsolved murders, open wounds, and hard-earned respect — the ranch is in constant conflict with those it borders – an expanding town, an Indian reservation, and America’s first national park.”
Yellowstone is created and executive produced by Taylor Sheridan and John Linson. The series currently stars Luke Grimes, Kelly Reilly, Wes Bentley, Cole Hauser, Kelsey Asbille, Brecken Merrill, Jefferson White, Forrie Smith, Denim Richards, Ian Bohen, Finn Little, Ryan Bingham, Gil Birmingham, Jen Landon, and Kathryn Kelly. It is executive produced by Costner, Art Linson, David C. Glasser, Bob Yari, Stephen Kay, Michael Friedman, Christina Voros, and Keith Cox. It is a production by MTV Entertainment Studios and 101 Studios.
(Source: The Hollywood Reporter)