Kevin Costner Welcomes The New Yellowstone Cast In The Most Dutton Way Possible

Kevin Costner is all-in as John Dutton on Yellowstone, even welcoming new franchise cast members to the ever-growing family

By Doug Norrie | Updated

This article is more than 2 years old

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Kevin Costner has seen the world of the Duttons quickly expand over the years on Yellowstone and there are even more stories to come in this somewhat surprising franchise. Recently, a Yellowstone prequel series, Y: 1883, announced some huge names to the cast with one making it social media official. Costner got to weigh in on the casting in true John Dutton fashion. It really does feel like the role he was meant to play and the acting legend has leaned into every step of the way. 

Y: 1883 announced on Wednesday that they were adding some heavy hitters to the new story with the word that country music stars and real-life husband and wife team Tim McGraw and Faith Hill would be joining as well as Sam Elliott. This show is going to keep going with its country, ranch life vibe and it is easy to see all three fitting in with the prequel. McGraw took to Instagram to share the news in a video and Kevin Costner didn’t waste any time jumping in with his Dutton seal of approval. Check out the post from McGraw.

The top comment on the post is from none other than Kevin Costner himself, giving the Dutton elder statesman seal of approval. He rang in with a welcome of sorts, saying that McGraw would certainly look the part as one of this television family. Check out what Kevin Costner had to say about the Mcgraw casting. 

Y: 1883 will follow the story of the Dutton ranchers back in the late 19th century. McGraw will play James Dutton and Hill will be Margaret Dutton. They are the great-grandparents of John Dutton played by Kevin Costner. This series will focus on the family as they travel West, looking to stake their claim to the land and presumably, finding the spot we find the Duttons on Yellowstone. According to the early description for the show, the Dutton family is in poverty, looking for freedom and a fresh start in Montana. From the first series, we know it works out but there is bound to be violence and hardship along the way.

Of course, because of the timing of this series, set around 150 years before the events of Yellowstone, we know the series will overlap with the Kevin Costner version in name only. Yellowstone was created by Taylor Sheridan and tells the story of the Dutton family and their ranch which is at a literal and figurative intersection of competing factions who want control of the land. Airing on Paramount+, the series is entering its fourth season and has received critical acclaim over the years. 

While things didn’t start all that strong for Kevin Costner and company in the first season of Yellowstone, it has made strides and finished with 88% and 100% for seasons two and three respectively on Rotten Tomatoes. Another spin-off, 6666 is planned which will take place during the same timeline of the original series but will be set in Texas.