'Yellowstone' Fans React To Kevin Costner Likely Not Returning

"Yellowstone" fans don't really seem to blame Kevin Costner for the issues with the show.

The hit neo-Western series from the mind of Taylor Sheridan is set to return in November to close out the epic journey that started in 2018.

However, as fans of the show know, it seems very unlikely Costner returns to play John Dutton one more time. It's almost a guarantee at this point the series will wrap up with the Dutton patriarch being killed off screen.

There's been some whispers about Costner wanting back on the show, but Sheridan not having any interest in doing that.

In a Reddit thread - titled "Am I the only one upset that Kevin Costner is ready to cut ties with the Yellowstone series?" - fans of the shows sounded off on who they blame most for the show appearing to likely end without Costner  involved, and the reactions might surprise some people.

Is Kevin Costner done appearing on "Yellowstone" after multiple reported issues? (Credit: Paramount Network)

"Yellowstone" fans debate Kevin Costner likely being done on the series.

A lot of the blame for the issues with the show appear to be often pinned on Costner and the fact he made "Horizon: An American Saga." The two-part saga will be released this summer. However, many fans don't agree with assessment. They blame Taylor Sheridan for Costner's exit.

Check out some reactions from the viral Reddit thread below, and let me know your thoughts at David.Hookstead@outkick.com.

• You’re probably not the only one, but realistically what is he supposed to do, wait on Sheridan to get his ducks in a row? At some point the excuses run thin for TS. We are closing in on 14 months since the last Yellowstone episode aired. (1/6/23 if you’re curious). I don’t blame Costner one bit.
• This is true. You make a valid point. The show did fall off in the last two seasons. I think I just wanted more from it tbh lol.
• Sheridan was focused on too many tasks at once instead of diligently focusing on one at a time.
• Taylor isn’t as good a writer as he thinks he is. Hole’s everywhere. When John Dutton is walking and talking after a 3 month coma. Come on impossible.
• It's not Costner cutting ties with Yellowstone. It's Yellowstone cutting ties with Costner. Costner was locked and the dates to film his movies. Sheridan kept moving Yellowstone filming further and further from when they were supposed to do it. This is due to Sheridan buying the 4 6's Ranch and the way he got the money for it was by promising Paramount either eight or 10 new series which he had to knock out. Sheridan delayed Yellowstone so long that it would interfere with Costner filming his movies which had hundreds of millions of dollars on the line and hundreds if not thousands of employees. Sheridan is the blame in this not Costner.
• This is exactly right. Not only was Sheridan interfering with Costner's movie shoot schedule for Horizon, but Costner is personally financing the Horizon movie with his own money. He has a lot on the line, and TS couldn't produce on a schedule that wouldn't cost Costner a bunch of money out of his own pocket. Costner has always been amazing in Westerns. He made Yellowstone must-watch TV, and I can't wait to see Horizon.
• Costner is the only reason I watched Yellowstone when it premiered. Without him, I'm out.
• Costner is really good, but him as governor feels like the series has jumped the shark, and after this what ideas would even remain?
• Am I alone in thinking that Sheridan originally wrote these characters as bad people and that their popularity is the only thing that reframed them?
• I think TS spread himself too thin, trying to capitalize on everything.
• He has so many loose ends. Too many irons in the fire.
• And he is pretty full of himself. He is so arrogant in his interviews...
• No, I’m still hoping Kevin Coster will be in the last season. His character is too big to just disappear without leaving a canyon in the story.
• Kevin Costner makes the show. Without him, there's no point. The kids and RIP have nothing to fight for.
• The entire premise of the first few seasons of the show was what happens to the ranch after John Dutton dies. So let him die. They could have written him off long ago, before all the behind the scenes drama and the show would likely still be going.
• I am so disappointed, not sure if I will watch it without him.
• It’s been so long since an episode aired it’s going to be irrelevant soon. I don’t blame him.
• I'm sure no one wants to see John "die offscreen" which is what will happen but this show SO overstayed its welcome. I am tired of them all. It has amazing potential but the writing too often fell back on prime soap stuff and tropes. Redundant, sad, stupid, shallow. It held the promise of much more but it was lazy.
• Honestly, I’m disappointed that the show is coming to an end in its current formation, but despite that, I’m very interested in seeing how it all ends, and what storylines carry over to the sequel series with Matthew McConaughey and/or Michelle Pfeiffer that’s being planned (whenever and however that occurs). I’m more interested in the 6666 series, but I’m still interested in how the story of the Yellowstone Dutton Ranch continues, and what happens to pretty much everyone. So much has been built up so far that I don’t think 6 episodes will be able to cover it all.
• You’re not alone about Kevin Costner; I’m gutted.

Honestly, I'm a little surprised by how many viewers are pinning the blame on Sheridan over Costner. Many media reports would have you think Costner was to blame above all else.

The narrative has been for a long time that Costner wanted a shorter shooting schedule so that he could focus on his new epic western films.

Things eventually hit a breaking point, and it became clear Sheridan could finish the show without the man responsible for playing John Dutton. However, regular fans don't seem to hold Costner responsible at all. They're putting the blame at Sheridan's feet and some are even refusing to return for the final episodes.

"Yellowstone" returns in November, and it's unclear if Kevin Costner will return or not. (Credit: Paramount Network)

It's a dynamic and perspective I didn't expect. Of course, things can always change, but I still expect the final episodes to put up huge ratings. Let me know what you think of the future of the show at David.Hookstead@outkick.com.