We are officially two weeks away from the highly anticipated Dutton Ranch premiere, and while many details about the show remain a mystery—specifically why Beth Dutton (Kelly Reilly) and Rip Wheeler (Cole Hauser) decided to move to Texas—one thing we do know is how John Dutton III (Kevin Costner) will be honored. In a newly released trailer, viewers catch a glimpse of the late John Dutton and learn how Beth is coping with the loss of her father. For more on this viral moment, keep scrolling.

On Thursday, April 30, Dutton Ranch released a new trailer. It opened with Beth telling Rip how much she missed her father. Rip replies by saying, “We brought the best part of your father with us,” then the camera pans to a cowboy hat, which seemingly confirms that the hat belongs to John—who died in Season 5 of Yellowstone.

“He’s not there physically, but he is still the most central character in all of these other characters’ worlds and minds and hearts,” Reilly told The Hollywood Reporter of John’s death back in 2025. “[Taylor Sheridan’s] a master storyteller, and we help him tell these characters’ stories, and it’s been such a ride and so electrifying to play and so invigorating. I trust him. I trust him with wherever he takes her [Beth]; whether we’re leaving her where we’ve left her, or we’re going to find her somewhere else, I trust him. I really could go either way right now. But the dealbreaker really for me is the writing, the writing has to be from him.”

Cole Hauser and Kelly Reilly in ‘Dutton Ranch’
Emerson Miller/Paramount+.

Also in the newly released Dutton Ranch trailer, fans catch a glimpse of Ed Harris and Annette Bening. Both are new to the Yellowstone world, and based on the clips we have seen thus far, their characters are going to raise some Texas-style hell in Season 1.

Costner left the Yellowstone universe in the middle of Season 5 to focus on his new film, Horizon. Following his departure, cast members claimed the actor left after engaging in a series of violent on-set fights. Those rumors were never confirmed by Costner or any of the cast.

LOS ANGELES, CA – FEBRUARY 13: Musician Ryan Bingham arrives at The 53rd Annual GRAMMY Awards held at Staples Center on February 13, 2011 in Los Angeles, California. (Photo by Jason Merritt/Getty Images

“I want to reach out and let you know that after this long year and a half of working on Horizon and doing all of the things that that’s required, and thinking about Yellowstone, that beloved series that I love, that I know you love, I just realized I’m not going to be able to continue Season 5B or into the future,” Costner shared in a social media video announcing his departure. “It was something that really changed me. I loved it and I know you loved it. I just wanted to let you know that I won’t be returning. I love the relationship we’ve been able to develop and I’ll see you at the movies.”

Kelly Reilly and Kevin Costner in ‘Yellowstone’
Courtesy of the Everett Collection

For the most part, fans accepted Costner’s exit, but a few were left wondering if the actor would ever return to the Yellowstone universe. These questions were raised again after the new Dutton Ranch trailer released, since it featured a pretty obvious John Dutton III call-out.

“I would love to go back under the right circumstances, I think that all of us want. For me, it really needs to be the right circumstances,” Costner said on the Today show in 2024. “There’s always a chance.”

Rate this post