Beth and Rip talking in Yellowstone
Kevin Costner, who brought notoriety and prestige to the series as John Dutton, revealed he hoped there would be seven seasons for Yellowstone. However, Costner’s exit from the modern Western show was the paramount reason Yellowstone’s seven-season plan couldn’t continue as envisioned. Costner’s John Dutton III was the soul of the show. However, Costner didn’t return to Yellowstone season 5, part 2, due to several disputes that riddled the final chapter. As it advances as Yellowstone’s successor, Beth and Rip’s show is reportedly looking for Costner’s replacement (via Puck). Still, there’s no need. The show can feature John Dutton III.

Josh Lucas Plays A Young John Dutton In Yellowstone’s Flashbacks
Yellowstone Has Two John Duttons
In Yellowstone seasons 1, 2, and 5, Josh Lucas plays a younger version of John Dutton in flashbacks. Lucas’ debut is Yellowstone season 1, episode 3, “No Good Horses.” The episode flashes back to a traumatic moment for young Beth Dutton (Kylie Rogers), blamed for her mother’s death after a disturbance with the horses causes John’s wife to fall backwards off her horse, fracturing her spine. When Beth makes it back to the ranch, Lucas’ John Dutton frantically asks his daughter what happened, then leads a search party to locate his wife and youngest son, Rhys Alterman’s Kayce.

After setting up John Dutton’s backstory in Yellowstone seasons 1 and 2, Lucas features frequently throughout the first half of season 5. Lucas appears with younger versions of Beth, Rip (Kyle Red Silverstein), and young Lloyd (Forrest Smith), explaining the ranch’s history of defending itself from local threats in the Modern Era. Lucas’ appearance and performance as John Dutton are satisfyingly believable, enhancing the Yellowstone cast with a younger version of Costner’s character that fans can subscribe to completely. The same could be said for Silverstein, who portrays Rip in his adolescence.

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Therefore, the couple’s spinoff is the perfect place for more Yellowstone flashbacks of Beth and Rip’s younger years. The memories became a vital part of Beth and Rip’s saga, explaining the moments leading up to their becoming the paramount Yellowstone power couple. Still, as Costner was to Reilly and Hauser in the original series, young John Dutton’s role in adolescent Beth and Rip’s flashbacks is essential. While the new offshoot intends to replace Costner, Beth and Rip’s offshoot could instead lean on John Dutton’s past influence and existing characters, with Lucas reprising his role alongside Rogers and Silverstein.

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Josh Lucas as John Dutton in Yellowstone
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The memories could explain how Beth and Rip hit their stride as adults, becoming the people who would eventually find each other. We know that Beth and Rip didn’t properly date after their ill-fated night out, but surely the pair interacted as they grew older, with Beth returning to the ranch to visit John. The flashbacks could focus on the characters as individuals. Still, the show should primarily highlight Reilly and Hauser’s performances. The actors will hold down the series, which is why Beth and Rip’s Yellowstone spinoff could just feature John Dutton rather than replace him.

Source: Puck

Yellowstone (2018) TV Show Poster
Yellowstone
Yellowstone is a neo-Western drama series created by Taylor Sheridan and John Linson, centered on the Dutton family and their fight to protect the Yellowstone Dutton Ranch from various adversaries, including land developers and nearby reservations. Premiering in 2018 on Paramount Network, the show has been praised for its depiction of power struggles, family loyalty, and rural conflicts. It has expanded into a franchise with spin-offs such as 1883 and 1923, and an upcoming sequel series is in development.