Does the LatestYellowstoneDeath Avenge John Dutton's Murder? What We Know About Kevin Costner's Character's Fate So Far

Mar. 15, 2025

(L-R) Wes Bentley as Jamie Dutton on Yellowstone; Kevin Costner as John Dutton on Yellowstone; Luke Grimes as Kacey Dutton and Kelly Reilly as Beth Dutton on Yellowstone.Photo:Emerson Miller/Paramount Network (3)

Emerson Miller/Paramount Network (3)

Warning: This story contains spoilers for part 2 ofYellowstoneseason 5.

The Dutton familyis continuing to unravel the secrets behind the death of their beloved patriarch.

On Sunday, Nov. 24, a new episode ofYellowstone’s final chapter revealed howKevin Costner’s character John Dutton died — and saw justice at least partially be served to the person behind his murder.

Fans and the Dutton family themselves were suspicious whenJohn died and his death was ruled a suicide in the season 5B premiereon Nov. 10, as he appeared to have died from a self-inflicted gunshot wound in his own home, and now they finally have answers as to how exactly the patriarch was killed.

Kevin Costner, Wes Bentley in ‘Yellowstone’.Danno Nell/Paramount Network/Courtesy Everett Collection

Both Beth (Kelly Reilly) and Kayce (Luke Grimes) are hit with a gut feeling and know immediately that their father is dead.

In the present timeline, Kayce continues fighting to have John’s death investigated as the family doesn’t believe it was a suicide, and they finally get their way as the medical examiner reneges the ruling of the death as a suicide and it is now being investigated as a homicide.

(L-R) Wes Bentley and Kelly Reilly on Yellowstone.Emerson Miller /Paramount Network / Courtesy of Everett Collection

Emerson Miller /Paramount Network / Courtesy of Everett Collection

Justice has at least partially been served for John Dutton now — though, with the Dutton family, there’s no telling how far they’ll go for revenge — but it’s still unlikely that Costner, 69, will be tuning in.

Wes Bentley, Kelly Reilly in ‘Yellowstone’.Emerson Miller/Paramount Network/Courtesy Everett Collection

“I heard it’s a suicide, so that doesn’t make me want to rush to go see it,” Costner said on SiriusXM’sThe Michael Smerconish Program. “I mean, I’ve been seeing ads with my face all over the place and I’m thinking, ‘Gee, I’m not in that one.’ I’m not in this season."

He continued, “My focus has been on what I was having to do, and I’ve got a few calls to make. So you think - sometimes I’m like just a passenger in my life, you know, there’s a lot going on. And somebody said, you know, it played last night? And I said, ‘Hmm, okay.’ So no, I found out about it this morning actually.”

Kelly Reilly, Kevin Costner in ‘Yellowstone’.Paramount Network/Courtesy Everett Collection

Paramount Network/Courtesy Everett Collection

When Michael Smerconish said that John Dutton doesn’t really seem like a “suicide kind of guy,” Costner weighed in on what he thinks could happen next. “Well, they’re pretty smart people. Maybe it’s a red herring. Who knows? They’re very good. And they’ll figure that out.”

Never miss a story — sign up forPEOPLE’s free daily newsletterto stay up-to-date on the best of what PEOPLE has to offer​​, from celebrity news to compelling human interest stories.

New episodes ofYellowstoneair Sundays at 8 p.m. ET/PT on Paramount Network.

source: people.com