For anyone wondering why Robert Redford didn’t end up becoming John Dutton, it’s because the version of Yellowstone that involved him was meant for HBO. Sheridan claims that he was onl

 

 

Yellowstone’s legacy was divisive before all the behind-the-scenes drama regarding Kevin Costner, but now it’s hard to speak about John Dutton without getting into the controversy. He’s likely among the most controversial iconic TV characters of all time, given what he represented, what the show represented, and how his story ended.

Kevin Costner’s departure from Yellowstone wasn’t the ideal situation for anyone involved and forced the series to come to a conclusion that felt forced, rather than what Sheridan likely planned for. Even before that, Dutton was a unique entry to the American TV antihero protagonists category, given how many viewers related to his ideologies.

 

 

Given how synonymous Kevin Costner has become with John Dutton to modern television audiences, it’s almost shocking that another veteran star almost played him. Like Costner, the great Robert Redford had his share of Western experience, having starred in Butch Cassidy and the Sundance Kid back in 1969.

With one of the all-time classic Western movies under his belt, Redford could have been exceptional as John Dutton. He may have nearly two decades on Kevin Costner, but he’s still a legendary film star, and, at that point, Yellowstone was likely shaping out to be a different project from where it ended up.

Speaking with THR, Taylor Sheridan shared that Robert Redford was the original actor intended to play John Dutton. Believing Redford would seal the deal in getting the series made, Sheridan met the actor face-to-face and pitched the project, even getting him to agree on the role.

 

y steps away from landing the show, and that they were the ones who tasked him with recruiting Redford (though they actually wanted a “Redford-like” star).