Costner & Lucas Had To Be Kept Separate During Yellowstone Production

Why the actors never met

They portray the same character on Yellowstone, yet Kevin Costner and Josh Lucas have never actually met in person. Both play different-age versions of John Dutton in one of television’s most-watched dramas, but their time on the series was arranged so their paths would not cross.

Same role, different eras

Kevin Costner is the longtime on-screen face of Yellowstone, embodying John Dutton in the show’s present-day storyline. Josh Lucas appears as a younger John Dutton in flashback sequences, giving viewers a look at the character’s earlier life without directly overlapping with Costner’s performance.

Deliberate separation on set

Production kept Costner and Lucas working at different times, so they were “almost kept separate on purpose” while filming. This schedule meant Costner was never on set when Lucas shot his scenes, ensuring the younger version evolved without direct imitation.

Creative reason behind the choice

The key idea was to prevent Lucas from simply copying Costner’s mannerisms and voice. Creator Taylor Sheridan and Lucas wanted the two Johns to share the same inner essence and emotional core, rather than appear as a straightforward impression of each other.

No off-screen drama

The separation was not due to conflict or tension; there was no reported bad blood between the two actors. Instead, it was a conscious creative strategy to protect the integrity and continuity of John Dutton across timelines while allowing each actor space to shape the role.

They play the same character on one of the most popular TV shows, but they’ve never met in person.

Author’s summary

Two actors share the role of John Dutton in Yellowstone, and producers intentionally kept their schedules separate so Josh Lucas could craft a younger version with Costner’s essence rather than a direct imitation, avoiding any off-screen conflict implications.

Yahoo — 2025-11-26