With a new team behind the camera and tensions cooling, is a flashback cameo finally on the table?

John Dutton May Be Dead… But His Legacy Isn’t

The Yellowstone universe is charging forward without its patriarch, but could Kevin Costner still return as John Dutton in the upcoming CBS spinoff Y: Marshals? According to recent reports, the door might not be completely closed.

Fans were left stunned when Costner departed Yellowstone mid–Season 5 amid creative tension with showrunner Taylor Sheridan and scheduling issues tied to Costner’s Horizon film project. His character was quietly written off—killed between seasons, with no on-screen death. But Y: Marshals, which follows Kayce Dutton (Luke Grimes) in a new chapter, may offer the perfect opportunity for John’s legacy to resurface.

New Series, New Rules

Y: Marshals premieres Sunday, March 1 on CBS, and brings Kayce into a whole new world. Leaving behind the ranch, he joins an elite U.S. Marshals unit—fusing his skills as a cowboy and Navy SEAL to battle crime across Montana.

The cast is already stacked with Yellowstone alums, including Brecken Merrill (Tate Dutton), Gil Birmingham (Rainwater), and Mo Brings Plenty (Mo). And with Grimes himself producing and Beth and Rip’s spinoff also in development, the Yellowstone continuity is very much alive.

But the biggest question remains: Will John Dutton appear in flashbacks or archival footage?

The Costner Question

Despite their falling out, Costner was reportedly open to returning for Yellowstone’s final season in a limited role. While those talks never materialized, Y: Marshals isn’t being run by Sheridan, which removes a key hurdle.

Spencer Hudnut, best known for SEAL Team, is running the show. And because Y: Marshals is still a Paramount production, there’s no rights barrier to including past footage—or even filming new scenes if Costner agrees.

NBC’s Puck previously reported that Costner expressed interest in returning via flashbacks. And as Y: Marshals explores Kayce’s future, it makes sense that his father’s influence would loom large, especially in emotional or spiritual moments.

Would fans accept brief but powerful appearances from John Dutton—even if he’s already dead? Judging by the online buzz, the answer is a resounding yes.

A Legacy That Refuses to Fade

With Sheridan set to exit Paramount for NBCUniversal in 2028, there’s a narrow window to deepen the Dutton family saga. Y: Marshals could be one of the final opportunities to bring John Dutton back on-screen—even if just in memory.