Yellowstone actor Josh Lucas gives an update regarding the return of young John Dutton in season 5 part 2. The Western drama, centered around the Dutton family’s hostile relationships and ongoing land disputes, premiered in 2018. Lucas, who portrays Kevin Costner’s younger counterpart, appeared in early episodes of the show, and made his return in season 5. With part 2 serving as Yellowstone’s conclusion, and Costner’s exit amid reports of behind-the-scenes contention with series creator Taylor Sheridan, it’s uncertain how much of John will be featured.
In a recent interview with Deadline, Lucas shared that young John Dutton will likely still be a part of Yellowstone season 5 part 2. The actor revealed that Sheridan had indicated the character’s return, and noted that the rest of season 5 will be “10 or more so episodes.” Read Lucas’ quote below:
I did text Taylor [Sheridan] a couple of months back and said, ‘hey man, I’ve loved working on the show so much. He’s like, ‘well we’ll be back.’
How Much Will John Dutton Be In Yellowstone Season 5 Part 2?
The news of Costner’s Yellowstone departure came in 2023. However, reports suggest that the Golden Globe Award-winning actor communicated with Sheridan about returning; it appears no agreement has been reached though. Season 5 part 1 ended with Jamie (Wes Bentley) publicly challenging John’s position as Governor of Montana and Beth (Kelly Rielly) involving her father in their dangerous rivalry. Because of that, it’s hard to imagine Yellowstone without its star, but filming for part 2 is scheduled to begin this spring. If Costner doesn’t come back, the role of John may be relegated to flashbacks.
Based on Lucas’ comments, viewers should expect the return of young John Dutton in some capacity. His role throughout the series revealed more about Costner’s version, along with the history of the Dutton Ranch. Even if season 5 part 2 features less of the character, and primarily through Lucas’ portrayal, it could help inform John’s evolution over the years, regardless of the lead actor’s status.
It will be interesting to see how young John Dutton gets integrated into Yellowstone’s final stretch of episodes, and what his inclusion means. Learning more about the show’s main character during the last season makes sense, and could perhaps lead to Lucas’ own spinoff in the future.