Kevin Costner's potential return as John Dutton in flashbacks for the Yellowstone spinoff Y: Marshals remains uncertain amid his character's death, past conflicts with Taylor Sheridan, and scheduling issues, yet archival footage offers a viable option. (152 characters)
John Dutton, played by Kevin Costner, has died in the Yellowstone universe, sparking questions about his odds of appearing in flashbacks within Y: Marshals, the CBS spinoff centered on Kayce Dutton.
This new series follows Kayce (Luke Grimes), who leaves Yellowstone Ranch to join an elite U.S. Marshals unit, blending his cowboy and Navy SEAL expertise to deliver justice across Montana's violent ranges.
Y: Marshals premieres on CBS on Sunday, March 1, under showrunner Spencer Hudnut, with Taylor Sheridan listed solely as executive producer—potentially easing tensions from Costner's reported rift with Sheridan during Yellowstone Season 5.
The shared Paramount production umbrella grants access to prior Yellowstone footage, enabling recycled scenes of Kayce and John without needing Costner's direct involvement.
Past scheduling clashes, like Costner's Horizon commitments, contributed to his exit from the flagship series.