John Dutton stars in new 'Yellowstone' trailer despite Kevin Costner's exit

Kevin Costner in new "Yellowstone" trailer, video thumbnail.

"This war is just beginning," John Dutton says in the explosive new trailer released Tuesday for the second half of "Yellowstone" Season 5,

His presence is remarkable because Kevin Costner, who has played the Yellowstone Ranch patriarch since the Taylor Sheridan series began in 2018, formally announced in June that he would not return to playDutton and shoot new scenes to write him out of the series.

Costner's Dutton, who appears in earlier footage, is prominently featured in the new trailer to rustle up viewers for its Paramount Network return on Nov. 10 (8 EST/PST). CBS will also air the premiere at 10 EST/PST).

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"Everyone's forgotten who runs this valley," Costner's Dutton says in voiceover to begin the 90-second trailer. "Time to remind them."

Images of Dutton's family, who will continue to live, and fight, on the contested TV ranch flash past, including star couple Beth Dutton (Kelly Reilly) and Rip Wheeler (Cole Hauser), who will carry the load for the "Yellowstone" saga going forward.

"Our family legacy is this ranch," says Beth.

"And I'll protect it with my life," says Rip.

But the enemies are circling, including eternally estranged son Jamie Dutton (Wes Bentley) and his lover, the political fixer Sarah Atwood (Dawn Olivieri).

"The only thing left to do is to kill as much as you can before they kill you," Beth Dutton says to end the trailer.

After a prolonged battle and negotiations with creator Sheridan and Paramount Studios over pay and shooting schedules ― exacerbated by Costner's ambitious "Horizon" movie franchise and Sheridan's sprawling TV universe ― Costner put the final nail in any "Yellowstone" return with an impromptu June 20 video.

The Oscar-winning "Dances with Wolves" filmmaker spoke directly to the camera in the video posted to his social media channels, saying, "I just wanted to let you know I won't be returning."

"I just wanted to get it done,"Costner told USA TODAY afterward of making the video.

Costner's first film installment "Horizon: An American Saga — Chapter 1" was released on June 28. The Western drama, which starred Costner alongside Sienna Miller and Sam Worthington, tanked at the box office. A planned theatrical release of a second chapter has been put on hold indefinitely.

This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: John Dutton stars in new 'Yellowstone' trailer despite Kevin Costner's exit