John Dutton’s fate was revealed in the season 5B premiere of Yellowstone on Sunday evening (November 10).
Many fans of the award-winning Western drama awaited the character’s fate after actor Kevin Costner confirmed he would not return to the show. Costner said in a video he posted on Instagram in June that “after this long year and a half of working on [Horizon: An American Saga], and doing all the things that that’s required, and thinking about Yellowstone — that beloved series that I love, that I know you love — I just realize that I’m not going to be able to continue season 5b or into the future. It was something that really changed me. I loved it, and I know you loved it. And I just wanted to let you know that I won’t be returning. I love the relationship we’ve been able to develop, and I’ll see you at the movies.”
Editor’s note: Spoilers ahead.
The second half of the fifth season made its highly-anticipated arrival on Sunday, and viewers quickly learned John Dutton — whose face is not shown in the episode — died of a gunshot wound. It happened because of a murder plot by Sarah Atwood, Dawn Olivieri’s character, though it was intended to look as though Dutton took his own life. Fans of the show were quick to react on social media when the scene took place at the beginning of the episode.
“When I read the first episode, I was shocked,” Director Christina Voros said, in part, per USA TODAY. “I'm paraphrasing here, but (creator Taylor Sheridan) was more interested in the season's story being about those who remain − rather than overly complicating, sentimentalizing or preparing for the inevitable.”
Costner starred in Yellowstone alongside Luke Grimes, Kelly Reilly, Wes Bentley, Cole Hauser and others. Reigning CMA and ACM Entertainer of the Year Lainey Wilson also made her acting debut on the epic drama. Yellowstone premiered in 2018, following “a ranching family in Montana (facing) off against others encroaching on their land.” The next episode is due on November 17.