Yellowstone’s John Dutton in politics? Kevin Costner says: ‘I know how hard it’s going to be on him. His heart is at the ranch’

Kevin Costner says his character won’t have an easy ride as governor of Montana ‘trying to find middle ground with people’ in season 6 of the US’ No 1 TV show

Personally he has no intention to run for political office, he says, and shrugs off criticism he’s received for supporting Democratic and Republican candidates

Reading Time:4 minutes

Why you can trust SCMP

Kevin Costner in a still from season five of Yellowstone. As Montana governor in season six he will be dragged away from his beloved ranch, Costner says, adding: “I know how hard it’s going to be on him.” Photo: Paramount Network

USA TODAY

Published: 4:15am, 14 Nov 2022

Kevin Costner is not saddling up for a new season of Yellowstone – he is buttoning up.

Costner’s John Dutton begins Yellowstone season five on November 13 showing the tough-as-nails rancher in his finest duds being sworn in as governor of the US state of Montana. So Dutton will have to step away from his beloved Yellowstone Ranch to actually govern.

“I know how hard it’s going to be on him,” Costner says. “His heart is at the ranch, not trying to find middle ground with people. That’s going to be problematic. He has a lane that he operates in that is not as expansive as some would want it to be. And he won’t change.”

That sentiment will bring a big sigh of relief for the Yellowstone faithful.

Costner as John Dutton in a still from Yellowstone. In season 5 he won election as governor of Montana, a role that will keep him away from his beloved ranch in season 6. Photo: Paramount Network

The sixth-generation patriarch of Yellowstone Dutton ranch who Costner portrays remains the unyielding cornerstone for US television’s biggest show, which averaged 10.7 million viewers in three-day viewing, up 73 per cent from season three.