The fate of John Dutton, played by Kevin Costner, on the Taylor Sheridan-produced western drama "Yellowstone" has been uncertain since the latest episode aired in January 2023.

Cosner has been in a protracted dispute with Sheridan and the show's producers, leading to many rumors about the future of "Yellowstone" and Cosner's participation.

Cosner has gone so far as to threaten a lawsuit over money he claims he is owed, while rumors abound that the series will continue without him, perhaps in a new iteration starring Matthew McConaughey.

The only official announcement is that the long-awaited second half of the fifth season--delayed due to a double Hollywood strike in addition to the possibility of a Cosner dropout--will mark the end of the series on the Paramount network. With or without Cosner, the show is expected to resume production soon for a November 2024 premiere (tentatively scheduled).

To do so, a script will have to be written, and Sheridan, known for his tight control over the creative direction of the series, probably already has some idea of how John Dutton's story will end. Whatever happens to John, it has seemed inevitable that it will happen off-screen, without Costner's involvement, but in a recent interview with Entertainment Tonight (via The Hollywood Reporter), Costner said that his "Yellowstone" collaborators In a recent interview with "Entertainment Tonight" (via The Hollywood Reporter), Costner took a less acrimonious tone toward his "Yellowstone" collaborators. [I thought I was going to make seven seasons, but now it's five," Cosner said at CinemaCon in Las Vegas while promoting his next two-part film, "Horizon": and Cosner said at CinemaCon in Las Vegas. 'I hope it works out. ...... Maybe it will. Maybe this will come back to me. If it does and I feel really comfortable (performing), I would love to do it."

There is still a lot of ambiguity in this statement, and Costner offered his thoughts on where John's story should go. But that's Taylor. I said that to him a while ago. But it's about Taylor.

Cosner is set to direct and star in the western epic "Horizon": but now that "Horizon" has been released, Cosner may be open to returning to "Yellowstone" to give fans closure on his character There is a possibility that ... [A new season of the spin-off "1923" starring Harrison Ford and Helen Mirren is in the works, and Paramount Plus is producing several spin-offs, including a possible sequel starring McConaughey. The only question is whether Costner will be in John Dutton's last hurrah.