Why Viewers Are Less Concerned About Kevin Costner’s Character’s Role on ‘Yellowstone’

• Kevin Costner is desperately trying to make a comeback on “Yellowstone.”
• However, research indicates that viewers are less interested in John Dutton now.
• Despite this, it doesn’t seem like he will be returning anytime soon.

Kevin Costner is eager to return to “Yellowstone,” but many viewers no longer have the same interest in the character of John Dutton as they did five years ago.

In May, it was announced that “Yellowstone” would conclude with its fifth season. Kevin Costner and creator Taylor Sheridan attributed Costner’s departure to disagreements over conflicting schedules. Costner, who is currently working on the movie series “Horizon: An American Saga,” stated that Sheridan’s decision to split season 5 into two parts was the reason for his exit.

Despite this, Costner, who is going through a public divorce with his wife Christine Baumgartner, reportedly insists on returning to the popular show, as reported by Puck.

During a meeting with Sheridan in July, where a potential return was discussed, Puck reported that Costner presented certain conditions, including a higher salary and greater control over scripts. These demands did not sit well with Sheridan, according to Puck News.

The same report highlighted that the audience’s interest in Costner’s character has diminished. According to social media analytics firm ListenFirst, the term “John Dutton” accounted for 44% of the show’s views in its first season, but dropped to only 14% in the latest season. Puck also cited Paramount viewer studies suggesting that audiences wouldn’t mind if the show shifted its focus away from Costner.

Instead, other characters, such as Beth (played by Kelly Reilly), have taken the spotlight, as reported by The Wall Street Journal.

Regardless of the audience’s opinion, it seems unlikely that Costner will return to the show anytime soon. During a divorce hearing on September 1, Costner mentioned the possibility of suing the show for the second half of season 5 pay, as reported by Puck.

In a previous court filing related to his divorce, Costner claimed that he was supposed to receive “back-end contractual participation rights” for “Yellowstone,” but stated that he hadn’t received any compensation from the show in 2023. According to unnamed sources, Costner has already been paid for season 5B, but believes that Paramount is in breach of its contract by revoking the offer for future seasons.

Puck reported that Costner’s threat of legal action likely led Paramount Networks Media Networks CEO Chris McCarthy to give up on the idea of negotiating Costner’s return.

Representatives for Costner have not responded to Insider’s request for comment sent outside of regular business hours.