After many rumors and speculations about Kevin Costner’s (Hatfields & McCoys, Amazing Stories) character, John Dutton, in Yellowstone, we now know where his fate lies. According to CNN, his fate has been decided.
After much anticipation, the second half of Yellowstone season five made its long-awaited return on Sunday.
The CNN article was full of spoiler alerts. In a stunning twist, what initially appeared to be the tragic suicide of John Dutton was revealed to be a cold-blooded murder in the latest episode of Yellowstone. As the drama unfolded, viewers learned that Dawn Olivieri (House of Lies), who plays Sarah Atwood, had become romantically involved with Jamie Dutton, played by Wes Bentley (American Beauty, The Hunger Games), who was the mastermind behind the deadly conspiracy. According to a CNN report, this shocking revelation reshapes the power dynamics within the Dutton family and sets the stage for a high-stakes battle for control of the Yellowstone ranch.
In a June announcement, Costner confirmed his departure from Yellowstone. The actor took to Instagram to share the news in a heartfelt video, marking the end of an era for his character on the show.
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According to CNN, Costner had a few words to say about his departure. “I just want to reach out and let you know that after this long year and a half of working on ‘Horizon’ and doing all the things that’s required, and thinking about ‘Yellowstone,’ that beloved series that I love, that I know you love,” Costner said. “I just realized that I’m not going to be able to continue Season 5b or into the future.”
Costner’s Western film Horizon: An American Saga, initially conceived as the first installment in an ambitious multi-part series, struggled to leave a lasting mark at the box office. Despite high expectations for its success, the film failed to resonate with audiences, ultimately falling short of its financial and critical goals.
Following the shocking premiere of Yellowstone, fans flocked to social media to express their sorrow over the departure of Costner’s character. Many viewers were disappointed with how the storyline handled his exit, sparking a wave of discussions and tributes online.
If THAT’S how they decide to end a great character like John Dutton…
THAT’S BULLSHIT. #YellowstoneTV #Yellowstone
— Nine (@ninewontmiss) November 11, 2024
Adding to the wave of fan reactions, some of Costner’s cast members also expressed their sadness over his character’s departure from Yellowstone. Their sentiments mirrored the audience’s grief, highlighting the significant impact of Costner’s absence on both the show and its community.
The CNN article mentioned that Luke Grimes (True Blood, Brothers & Sisters), who plays Kayce Dutton, told The Independent, “It’s hard to imagine the show without him. But that’s always where the show was headed. It was, can these kids do it without him?
According to CNN, Grimes added, “So we all knew it was going to get there, we just didn’t know how or when, and clearly it was different than what we thought. But what it did do was ramp the show up to a 10 and now everything starts to unravel.
Yellowstone airs on Paramount Network and is also available for on-demand purchase via Prime Video.