Was Kevin Costner’s John Dutton Always Supposed To Die In Yellowstone?

It’s quite possible that if John Dutton (Kevin Costner) hadn’t died in the premiere of Yellowstone season 5, part 2, he would have died in the series finale regardless. Fans were curious how Taylor Sheridan would write Costner out of the show after he didn’t return for the conclusion. Yellowstone season 5, part 2's premiere got the main question out of the way immediately, revealing that John Dutton had, allegedly, killed himself in the governor’s mansion. While John Dutton’s death was more complex than it seemed, the premiere wasted no time explaining that Yellowstone's patriarch was gone.