Following news of Kevin Costner’s exit fromYellowstone, many have beenspeculating and theorizing about how his character, John Dutton III, will be written out of the Paramount Network series,and there are only so many possibilities that make sense.Taylor Sheridan’s popular TV showfollows the Dutton family, led by Costner’s John, who owns the Yellowstone Ranch near the Broken Rock Indian Reservation and Yellowstone National Park. Throughout the neo-Western drama series, the family experiences many ups and downs as they struggle to maintain control over their land and power in the community.
Only six episodes remain inYellowstoneseason 5, with part 2 premiering on Sunday, November 10, at 8 pm ET on the Paramount Network.
ThroughoutYellowstone’s five seasons, Costner’s patriarchal figure has seen it all. And after the ending of season 5, part 1, in January 2023, it was clear that John was in trouble. With the announcement thatCostner would leaveYellowstoneahead of the season 5, part 2 premiere, John’s fate in the TV show was all but sealed.He will be absent in the final six episodes ofYellowstone.Although neither Sheridan nor any of the cast members have revealed how Costner’s exit will be explained within the context of the neo-Western drama, there are only so many options for John’s ending.
8John Dies Of Natural Causes In Yellowstone Season 5, Part 2
John Could Have A Heart Attack
One of the most prevalent and logical theories concerningJohn Dutton III’s exit inYellowstoneseason 5, part 2, revolves around his death.Kevin Costner’s character’s dying would be a fitting end for him.It would also be an easy way to explain the actor’s absence from the Paramount Network TV show. Perhaps the best (or most believable) way for John to die inYellowstoneseason 5, part 2, is from natural causes, as it could plausibly happen offscreen (which is necessary because Costner isn’t returning in the episodes at all).
Yellowstone Season 5 Part 2 Trailer Spoils Jamie’s Tragedy That Solidifies Beth’s Win
All evidence points toward Beth winning the war between her and Jamie in Yellowstone season 5, part 2, and the trailer solidifies her victory.
Unfortunately, heart attacks happen all the time, especially to someone of John’s age inYellowstone. It’s entirely possible that John was working on the ranch one day and had a sudden heart attack (offscreen, of course), or he died in his sleep. Sure, John dying from natural causes wouldn’t be themost shocking death inYellowstone’s history. However,this explanation for Costner’s absence would allow season 5, part 2, to quickly move on from his deathto more important storylines that must end before the finale.
7Jamie’s Plan Is Successful After Impeaching His Father
Yellowstone Season 5, Part 1 Ends With Jamie Targeting John
Thefinal episode ofYellowstoneseason 5, part 1, chronicles Jamie Dutton’s complete betrayal of his father, John Dutton III. Jamie has never felt like he truly belonged to the Dutton family, so, his turn against them has been a long time coming. Sarah Atwood persuades Jamie to file articles of impeachment against John, the Governor of Montana, in an attempt to take away his power and stop his chokehold on the community.Jamie accuses his father of violating numerous state laws,and his pursuit could easily end with John getting kicked out of his political office.
Reports claim that Paramount might renewYellowstonefor a sixth season, meaning season 5, part 2, won’t be the last time fans see the Dutton family. However, as of the writing of this article, Paramount hasn’t confirmed this rumor.
The premiere ofYellowstoneseason 5, part 2, could reveal that Jamie was successful and John is no longer the Governor of Montana. As a result,John has faded from public view,explaining why he isn’t in the show’s last six episodes. Costner’s character is lying low, while his daughter, Beth Dutton, handles Jamie.
6John Goes On The Run From The Police
The Authorities Learn About John’s Crimes
After Jamie Dutton files the articles of impeachment against John Dutton III in theYellowstoneseason 5, part 1, finale, Beth Dutton confronts her brother. She threatens to release the photos of him dumping his biological father’s body at the infamous train station if he doesn’t retract his filing. However,Jamie shares his knowledge that John has been burying the bodies of his enemies at the train station for years now,something Beth is unaware of. Consequently, the two are at a standstill, stokingJamie and Beth’s rivalry inYellowstone.
MaybeJamie goes through with his threat of telling the police about his father’s crimes inYellowstoneseason 5, part 2.As a result, John goes on the run from the law, trying to evade capture and going to prison. This explanation forKevin Costner’s absence inYellowstoneseason 5, part 2, would make sense for the story. It would also add more fuel to the fire in the war between Jamie and Beth, making their storyline all the more intriguing.
5Kevin Costner’s Character Moves Out Of Montana
John Moving In Yellowstone Season 5, Part 2 Would Be Surprising
Even though Kevin Costner’s John Dutton III suddenly moving out of Montana might be unbelievable on the surface, it could make sense if the writers do it right inYellowstoneseason 5, part 2. As mentioned above, Jamie has filed articles of impeachment against his adoptive father.John may simply give up, stepping down from his position as the Governor of Montanaand subsequently moving out of the state in the last season ofTaylor Sheridan’s TV show.
Kathryn Kelly
Emily
Yes, John loves the Yellowstone Ranch, but perhaps he’s tired of being the one to constantly protect it. Costner’s character could let one of the otherDutton family memberstake the reign inYellowstoneseason 5, part 2, and leave Montana for good.John leaving the state of his own will is quite unlikely to happen in the neo-Western drama,but it’s not out of the realm of possibility.
4Jamie Kills John In Yellowstone Season 5, Part 2
Jamie Is Out For Blood
The most likely option when including Jamie Dutton in the theories ofhow John Dutton III’s story will end inYellowstoneseason 5, part 2, is that he murders him. At the end of part 1,Jamie commits to killing his father and sister, Beth Dutton,when speaking to Sarah Atwood. Sarah reveals that she has contacts who could take care of the two Dutton family members, and Jamie is onboard with the plan. He’s out for blood, and it wouldn’t be shocking if Jamie was the one to strike first by taking out John.
Even if Jamie murders John first, Beth winning the Dutton family war inYellowstoneseason 5 by killing her brother is almost a guarantee based on context clues.
Meanwhile,Beth wants her adoptive brother dead as much as he wants to rid himself of her.Beth has hated Jamie for years inYellowstonebecause he had her sterilized without her permission. Since then, she has despised him, and Jamie’s betrayal during the season 5, part 1, finale gives Beth the go-ahead to finally kill him. Even if Jamie murders John first,Beth winning the Dutton family war inYellowstoneseason 5by killing her brother is almost a guarantee based on context clues. Only time will tell if John’s absence is tied to the siblings' rivalry, though.
3John Is Away On Business
John Is (Presumably) Still The Governor Of Montana
IfJamie Dutton is unsuccessful in booting John Dutton III from his position as the Governor of Montana,theYellowstonewriters can explainKevin Costner’s absence inYellowstoneseason 5, part 2, by sending his character out of town. He is the governor of the entire state, after all. John going away on business would be a feasible reason as to why he is nowhere to be seen inYellowstoneseason 5, part 2.
His being gone for so long wouldn’t make sense for the story, nor could it give Costner’s character a satisfying ending.
The only caveat to this theory is that simplysaying John is dealing with political matters elsewhere is a complete cop-out.His being gone for so long wouldn’t make sense for the story, nor could it give Costner’s character a satisfying ending. However, TV writers use cop-outs all the time to explain actors' exits. So, John leaving the ranch to handle business concerning his job inYellowstoneseason 5, part 2, is still a sensible theory.
2John Is Killed By A Different Yellowstone Villain
John Has Many Enemies
Maybe Jamie Dutton isn’t the one tokill Kevin Costner’s John Dutton III inYellowstoneseason 5, part 2.The character has made his fair share of enemies over the years— any of them could want John dead. Of course, those associated with Jamie, like Sarah Atwood (and by association, Caroline Warner) might be the perpetrators. They could hire a hitman to murder John, leaving Jamie’s hands blood-free while also dealing with his issues regarding his father. Or, in a shocking turn of events, one of John’s other children could kill him.
Kevin Costner’s Yellowstone Season 5 Exit Isn’t That Bad Thanks To One Harsh Reality About John Dutton
Kevin Costner has been the star of Yellowstone for five years, but the modern Western could easily continue even after he is written out.
Another option is that some unknown character kills Costner’scharacter inYellowstoneseason 5, part 2. This theory is rather improbable as it wouldn’t make sense for John to meet his end by the hand of someone not established in the neo-Western drama series. However, at the end of the day, anything is possible.
1Kevin Costner’s Character Dies In An Accident In Yellowstone Season 5, Part 2
John Probably Won’t Die In A Car Accident
Similar to John Dutton III dying of natural causes,it would be easy to have Kevin Costner’s character die in an accident.Even thoughTaylor Sheridan has debunked the theory that John will be killed off in a car crash inYellowstoneseason 5, part 2, other accidents happen. The showrunner toldThe Hollywood Reporter:
“I was killed in a f— you car crash! I don’t do f— you car crashes. Whether [Dutton’s fate] inflates [Costner’s] ego or insults is collateral damage that I don’t factor in with regard to storytelling.”
Given Sheridan’s comments,John dying in a car crash can be scratched off the list of possibilities concerning his exit inYellowstoneseason 5, part 2.However, that doesn’t mean that John won’t be a victim of a different kind of accident. Costner’s iconic character could perish in a plane or helicopter accident, something that could be shown in the episodes without needing the actor on the set. Whatever the case, most agree thatJohn dying inYellowstoneseason 5, part 2, is the most likely scenario.
Yellowstone
Cast
Yellowstone follows the Dutton family, led by patriarch John Dutton, as they defend their expansive ranch against external threats from land developers, an Indian reservation, and America’s first national park. Released on July 22, 2025, this series examines the complex dynamics and violent conflicts surrounding the largest contiguous ranch in the United States.
