Will Kevin Costner Appear on ‘Y: Marshals’, the ‘Yellowstone’ Kayce Dutton Spinoff?

Will Kevin Costner Return in Y: Marshals?

John Dutton is dead within the Yellowstone universe, which makes any appearance by Kevin Costner in Y: Marshals unlikely in the present timeline, but still possible in flashback form as the story of Kayce Dutton expands on CBS.

Background: Why His Return Is Uncertain

Kevin Costner’s working relationship with Yellowstone creator Taylor Sheridan reportedly deteriorated during production of Season 5, coinciding with disputes around Costner’s schedule for his Horizon film projects and contributing to his abrupt departure from the flagship series. These tensions, combined with the narrative fact that John Dutton has been killed off, create both creative and practical obstacles to bringing Costner back on screen in the new spinoff.

What Y: Marshals Is About

With the Yellowstone Ranch behind him, Kayce Dutton, played by Luke Grimes, leaves his family’s land to join an elite U.S. Marshals unit in Montana in Y: Marshals. The series follows him as he blends his skills as a cowboy and former Navy SEAL while he and his fellow marshals confront violent crime, juggle family responsibilities, and face the psychological toll of serving as the last line of defense in the region.

Confirmed Characters and Premiere Details

Luke Grimes is returning as Kayce Dutton and is currently the central confirmed star of the spinoff. Other Yellowstone veterans will appear: Brecken Merrill returns as Tate Dutton, Gil Birmingham as Thomas Rainwater, and Mo Brings Plenty as Mo, giving the series firm continuity with the original show. Y: Marshals is set to premiere on CBS on Sunday, March 1, expanding the Yellowstone franchise on broadcast television.

How John Dutton Could Still Appear

Y: Marshals is produced by the same studio responsible for the other Yellowstone titles, and CBS and Paramount Network both sit under the Paramount corporate umbrella, meaning the series has access to existing Yellowstone footage. This setup would allow the creative team to reuse earlier scenes between John and Kayce Dutton as flashbacks, giving John a presence in the narrative even without new filming by Kevin Costner.

Creative Control and Future of the Franchise

On Y: Marshals, Taylor Sheridan serves solely as an executive producer, while showrunner duties fall to a separate creative lead, which may reduce any friction related to Sheridan and Costner’s reported rift. Sheridan has also signed a long-term overall deal that keeps him developing projects and maintaining the Yellowstone universe for years, with multiple spinoffs active, planned, or in limbo, including stories adjacent to Kayce’s new law‑enforcement path.

“John Dutton is dead in the Yellowstone universe, but what are the odds he could appear in flashbacks in Y: Marshals, the CBS Kayce Dutton spinoff?”

Kevin Costner and Taylor Sheridan’s working relationship reportedly “soured” during the production of Yellowstone Season 5, coinciding with Horizon-related scheduling issues.

Brief Author’s Summary

Y: Marshals shifts focus to Kayce Dutton’s life as a U.S. Marshal in Montana, leaving Kevin Costner’s John Dutton confined to potential flashbacks due to his on‑screen death and real‑world production tensions.

KTEN — 2025-11-27