Kevin Costner is set to leave the hit Western series as it comes to a close after five seasons, but does this mean his iconic rancher John Dutton will be killed off?
Fans are more convinced than ever that John Dutton (played by Kevin Costner) will die in Yellowstone’s fifth season, and his death may have been foreshadowed from the beginning.
With plans in place for the Paramount Network drama to wrap up its mainline series in the next year, viewers have been speculating how Costner’s final moments will arrive.
Now, a new theory involving his daughter Beth (Kelly Reilly) and adopted son Jamie (Wes Bentley) already has several fans convinced of John’s demise ahead of the release of season five’s remaining episodes.
Redditor u/unknownuser123456788 predicted: “He will die saving Beth from Jamie’s plot.”
Back in Yellowstone’s first season, a flashback revealed John’s wife Evelyn (Gretchen Mol) was killed in a horseriding accident during a trip out with her daughter.
Beth has blamed herself for the tragic loss ever since, and fans now believe the series could go full circle when it comes time to kill off John.
Throughout the series, Beth has feuded with her brother Jamie due to a shocking revelation in their teenage years.
Jamie is currently working with Market Equities’ Sarah Atwood (Dawn Olivieri) to take over the ranch, but their scheme could go up in smoke if John catches wind of what they’re doing.
This theory suggests Jamie will finally attempt to take his revenge on Beth, forcing John to make the impossible choice between his biological daughter and adopted son.
User u/miirie agreed, replying: “This would be some s**t for sure – both parents dying ‘because’ of Beth!”
u/Eryk13 added: “This is an interesting take and one that could redeem the series to some level. Good idea sir.”
However, other fans have proposed John’s death could actually occur the other way around.
AmericanWanderlust commented: “Maybe he dies protecting Jamie from Rip Wheeler (Cole Hauser)/Beth. Like in a last-minute change of heart, John thwarts their assassination plot and takes the bullet himself.
“Jamie feels [love] for the first time ever. John dies a good Dad. Beth goes ballistic.”
Although Costner’s exit has been widely reported, Paramount has not yet confirmed if the Yellowstone franchise will continue in the present day with the surviving members of the Dutton family.
A second season of 1923 starring Harrison Ford and Helen Mirren is still in the works and a spin-off starring Matthew McConaughey is rumoured to be in development.
The upcoming finale could see the entire Dutton family wiped out in a blaze of glory, but fans still have a few months to wait before they find out John’s ultimate fate.
Yellowstone is available to stream on Paramount+ in the UK and Peacock in the USA.