Is John Dutton dead? The fate of the Yellowstone character explained

Yellowstone fans are shocked by the abrupt way Kevin Costner’s character was apparently dispatched on the show – but is John Dutton really dead?

Yellowstone Season 5 Part 2 exploded onto our screens this week, leaving shocked fans and a series of questions. There are questions about it what year Yellowstone has been set and whether the series is based on a true storybut there’s one all-powerful answer viewers need: is John Dutton dead?

There has been a lot of talk about it Kevin Costner leaves Yellowstonebut after the show’s creators sent a strong message that he would be an “integral” part of the latest episodes, fans thought John Dutton would stick around. So what exactly is going on? John was apparently killed at the beginning of Season 5, Part 2, so let’s find out if it’s true or all a red herring.

Is John Dutton dead?

Yes, it looks like John Dutton is really dead. Early in the ninth episode, John Dutton is found dead in the bathroom of the Montana governor’s mansion, with a gunshot wound to the head. Since Kevin Costner’s face could not be seen directly, fans who did not want to believe that he could be dead thought that this could be a deception.

This is largely because Yellowstone director Christina Voros previously suggested that John Dutton’s character would remain an “essential part” of the show’s final episodes. Speak with The Hollywood Reporter‘, she said, ‘John Dutton is still central, his presence is integral. I think if I said more it would potentially jeopardize all the work that went into editing the scripts!’

However, after John’s apparent body was found in the show’s bathroom, John’s son Jamie called a press conference to announce his father’s death by suicide. Costner himself has also confirmed his character’s fate, and unfortunately he won’t be returning and John Dutton is no more.

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According to VarietyNot only has Costner spoken about his character’s fate, he didn’t even want to see him leave the show. He said, “I’ll be completely honest. I didn’t know it was actually airing last night,” Costner said in an interview the next morning. He continued, “That’s a swearing to God moment. I swear to God. I mean, I’ve seen ads with my face everywhere and I’m like, ‘Gosh, I’m not in that.’ I won’t be there this season.”

The actor wasn’t even aware that John Dutton’s death would initially be presented as a suicide – it seems the only red herring in not seeing John’s face during the scene where his body was discovered was because Costner was unavailable to film it and a double was used. It does come to light that John did not actually commit suicide, but was murdered by Sarah, who is sleeping with his son Jamie.

Costner also indicated that he did not want to leave the series, but felt forced to do so. He would have liked to take on other projects around him Yellowstone made commitments and was told that this was possible. However, because filming of the series often ran late, he found this impossible.

Kevin Costner in Yellowstone

(Image credit: Paramount)

The actor concluded: “There were contractual things that allowed both things to be done, but because both things were contractual, you had to make room for the other. There was room, but it was difficult for them to stick to their schedule. It seemed like it was just too hard for them to do it.

John Dutton may be an integral part of the rest of the series, but this will only happen because of the repercussions following his death, and not because the character will be physically present in the show. Sorry to disappoint fans who desperately wanted the character to stay.