Can Yellowstone Work Without Kevin Costner & Will They Kill Him Off?

Western drama hit on Paramount Network Yellowstone The hit TV series “The Last Man” is returning for the second half of its fifth and final season (unless the alleged plans for a sixth season come to fruition) and is set to return in November 2024, leaving many fans wondering how the series can survive the passing of star Kevin Costner. The sprawling drama follows influential rancher John Dutton (Costner) and the lasting legacy he leaves his family, spanning generations across the franchise’s many prequel films and spinoffs.

In addition, Costner's star power reminds viewers that Yellowstone Much more cinematic than most TV shows.Without him in the future, there may not be much reason to wait for the final six episodes without bringing John Dutton's story to a satisfying close. With Paramount already preparing Madisonanother coming Yellowstone A spinoff starring Michelle Pfeiffer set in modern-day Montana, we have to wonder how Yellowstone He will cross the finish line without Costner driving him.

Kevin Costner Leaving Yellowstone, Explained

After playing patriarch John Dutton in four seasons of Yellowstone Between 2018 and 2022, Paramount announced Kevin Costner's planned exit from the series in May 2023. The announcement came five months into the first half of season five, which concluded with Costner's final episode, “Knife and No Coin.” In the episode, John is left speechless when his daughter Beth (Kelly Reilly) suggests killing her adopted brother Jimmy (Wes Bentley) for his murderous ways.

Yellowstone Fans were denied a crucial exit for John Dutton midway through season five.Which led many to believe that Costner would return for the final six episodes and give viewers a sense of closure for the Dutton patriarch. Unfortunately, after five months, Costner officially left the show to focus on his expensive film saga. Horizona cinematic event that had a negative impact at the box office, at least during its first part. After making only $34 million worldwide against a budget estimated at $100 million (via Mojo Box Office), Horizon The film was abruptly pulled from theaters, and a sequel was delayed from its initial August release date.

While leaving Yellowstone For directing and acting in Horizon There seems to be a mistake in the past, It would be nearly impossible for the Paramount series to make it through the final episodes without Costner.Even if the drama is in YellowstoneAlthough the ending of “The Last Days” exceeds expectations, the series will likely suffer a sharp decline in ratings without Costner at the helm.

Can Yellowstone National Park Survive Without Costner?

After failing to provide a convincing conclusion to viewers for John Dutton, Yellowstone The series has lost credibility among its fans. If the show can’t properly wrap up the main character’s narrative arc, there’s little reason to trust that the production will complete the other character arcs with satisfactory results. While there’s enough dramatic intrigue surrounding Jimmy’s fate at the train station, a euphemism for the Dutton family’s secret graveyard, most fans have already been assured of his death after Costner’s shock announcement. Yellowstone departure.

Aside from Costner's exit and lack of logic to listen to, YellowstoneThe last six episodes of the series, Different by-products must be taken into account.Today's entertainment world is competing for the attention of the public, and with a whole series of events coming to fruition, 1883the second season is coming 1923and the inaugural season of 6666 The film is expected to move to Paramount+ sometime in late 2024 (though it could be later), with fans having plenty of options outside of the main theaters. Yellowstone Series. This is not even taken into account. Madisonthe next Yellowstone Contemporary installment of the Western drama set in Montana.

It would be different if the final events were Yellowstone These events have serious consequences for the aforementioned subsidiaries. However, the timeline of the family’s rule is already complicated by the jumps back and forth between decades along the American border. Therefore, there is no real dramatic reason to watch YellowstoneThe final scenes of the film, especially in the absence of star Kevin Costner, are what lead viewers to the finish line in a convincing way that resolves the fate of the most important member of the Dutton family. Yellowstone It is streaming on Peacock.