Following news of Kevin Costner’s exit from Yellowstone, many have been speculating 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 show follows 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.

Throughout Yellowstone’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 that Costner would leave Yellowstone ahead 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 of Yellowstone. 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.

John Dies Of Natural Causes In Yellowstone Season 5, Part 2
John Could Have A Heart Attack

One of the most prevalent and logical theories concerning John Dutton III’s exit in Yellowstone season 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 in Yellowstone season 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).

Unfortunately, heart attacks happen all the time, especially to someone of John’s age in Yellowstone. 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 the most shocking death in Yellowstone’s history. However, this explanation for Costner’s absence would allow season 5, part 2, to quickly move on from his death to more important storylines that must end before the finale.

Jamie’s Plan Is Successful After Impeaching His Father
Yellowstone Season 5, Part 1 Ends With Jamie Targeting John

The final episode of Yellowstone season 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.

The premiere of Yellowstone season 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.

John 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 the Yellowstone season 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, stoking Jamie and Beth’s rivalry in Yellowstone.

Maybe Jamie goes through with his threat of telling the police about his father’s crimes in Yellowstone season 5, part 2. As a result, John goes on the run from the law, trying to evade capture and going to prison. This explanation for Kevin Costner’s absence in Yellowstone season 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.

Kevin 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 in Yellowstone season 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 Montana and subsequently moving out of the state in the last season of Taylor Sheridan’s TV show.

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 other Dutton family members take the reign in Yellowstone season 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.

Jamie Kills John In Yellowstone Season 5, Part 2
Jamie Is Out For Blood

The most likely option when including Jamie Dutton in the theories of how John Dutton III’s story will end in Yellowstone season 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 in Yellowstone season 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 in Yellowstone because 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 in Yellowstone season 5 by 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.

John Is Away On Business
John Is (Presumably) Still The Governor Of Montana

If Jamie Dutton is unsuccessful in booting John Dutton III from his position as the Governor of Montana, the Yellowstone writers can explain Kevin Costner’s absence in Yellowstone season 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 in Yellowstone season 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 simply saying 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 in Yellowstone season 5, part 2, is still a sensible theory.

John Is Killed By A Different Yellowstone Villain
John Has Many Enemies

Maybe Jamie Dutton isn’t the one to kill Kevin Costner’s John Dutton III in Yellowstone season 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.

Another option is that some unknown character kills Costner’s character in Yellowstone season 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.

Kevin 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 though Taylor Sheridan has debunked the theory that John will be killed off in a car crash in Yellowstone season 5, part 2, other accidents happen. The showrunner told The 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 in Yellowstone season 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 that John dying in Yellowstone season 5, part 2, is the most likely scenario.