Taylor Sheridan Officially Crowns Kevin Costner’s John Dutton Replacement In Yellowstone

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Be warned, this article contains spoilers for the show Marshals and Yellowstone. Kevin Costner is no longer playing John Dutton III in the Yellowstone universe. For most of the show’s five seasons, Costner was the central figure as the head of the Dutton family and the face of Taylor Sheridan’s popular neo-Western series. His character, a descendant of a family with deep roots in the Montana ranch, was the core of the story. Though Yellowstone featured an ensemble cast, most of the show’s main plots revolved around or connected to John Dutton III, making his departure a significant change.

Numerous sources indicate Kevin Costner left Yellowstone for a combination of reasons, primarily due to scheduling conflicts and his desire to pursue other projects. When Costner made it clear he wouldn’t return, creator Taylor Sheridan decided to conclude Yellowstone by killing off his character, John Dutton III. Though Costner didn’t appear in the final episodes, his death and the character’s legacy were central to the show’s ending. Now, Sheridan has addressed the gap left by Costner’s character with the new series, Marshals.

Thomas Rainwater Fills The Void Left By John Dutton In Marshals

Following the events of Yellowstone, Kayce Dutton continues his family’s story in Marshals, though the show takes a slightly different approach. Luke Grimes’ character now works with the U.S. Marshals after a tragic loss for his family. Marshals is Taylor Sheridan’s first series for traditional television, and it’s structured as a standard police procedural set within the Western-style world he’s known for. The show still explores familiar storylines and includes characters we recognize, such as Thomas Rainwater, who takes on a leadership role previously held by John Dutton III.

Even after the death of John Dutton and the land reverting to the Reservation, the ranch still faces difficulties in Marshals. Now that John III is gone, Rainwater is determined to protect the Montana landscape for future generations, and the new CBS series shows him taking strong action to do so.

It’s not really a surprise, considering Rainwater and John III always agreed on how to run the ranch, despite their disagreements. Thomas even noted this during the final scene of Yellowstone, when the ranch was effectively returned to them.

How Rainwater’s New Role In Marshals Impacts Kayce’s Future

CBS

This storyline will likely remain important throughout Marshals, particularly now that Kayce is a U.S. Marshal. Considering the series’ beginning, it’s understandable that both Rainwater and Mo approved of Kayce’s career change, as they recognize his protective nature and see him as a valuable ally for the future.

Beyond simply carrying on John Dutton’s commitment to preserving the land, Rainwater also becomes a father figure to Kayce, particularly after Monica’s passing. Their existing good relationship was never fully developed during the show due to John’s strong influence, but now Kayce and Rainwater have the opportunity to build a deeper connection and support each other.

Kayce and his father, John III, had a very strained relationship, to put it mildly. Although they grew closer over time, the series began with a lot of conflict between them. His work with the Marshals mirrors this dynamic, as it strengthens his connection with Rainwater.

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2026-03-23 18:48