The <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/news/watch-the-wild-moment-a-yellowstone-bison-sends-grandfather-flying?author=Gus+Wilson&amp;category=News&amp;elementPosition=12&amp;row=0&amp;rowType=Vertical+List&amp;title=Watch+The+Wild+Moment+A+Yellowstone+Bison+Sends+Grandfather+Flying">tourist who was attacked by a bison</a> at Yellowstone National Park finally spoke out about the incident from his Bozeman Health hospital bed Monday.
Carl Isom-McDaniel, 65, was visiting the famous park with his grandson when a bison charged him and sent him flying more than eight feet into the air. In an interview with CBS News, Isom-McDaniel recalled the viral attack caught on camera while recovering from his surgery on his broken femur.
“We saw the bison, and he was down. He wasn’t showing aggression or anything like that until it picked a target,” Isom-McDaniel told CBS in an <a href="https://x.com/CBSNews/status/2079415318951219264">interview</a>. “That target happened to be me.&#8221;
Isom-McDaniel’s grandson was seen throughout the beginning of the video, but managed to escape when the animal got close enough to attack. He explained how he was able to protect his grandson and take the brunt of the damage.
“At the time, I had my grandson with me,” he stated. “It was like, you need to get up to the amphitheater. I will deal with this down here.”
Mike MacLeod, the veteran photographer who captured the video of the attack, told Fox News that <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/news/photographer-behind-viral-yellowstone-bison-attack-video-reveals-victims-first-words?author=Gus+Wilson&amp;category=News&amp;elementPosition=9&amp;row=0&amp;rowType=Vertical+List&amp;title=Photographer+Behind+Viral+Yellowstone+Bison+Attack+Video+Reveals+Victim%E2%80%99s+First+Words">Isom-McDaniel remained in high spirits moments</a> after flying through the air, even cracked a joke, and made sure his grandson was safe. Despite his initial reaction when the bison finally left him alone, the tourist feared for his life.
“They move faster than you could ever imagine. He just kept coming and he was more aggressive,” he said. “As soon as he got off that tree, he launched me into the air.”
“Even though I was on the ground he could have stomped me, he could have gored me, he could have done anything,” Isom-McDaniel added.
He is expected to make a full recovery at the Montana hospital after surgery repaired his femur that broke in four separate parts.

Yellowstone Bison

Grandfather Attacked By Yellowstone Bison Speaks Out From Hospital Bed

Animals

Yellowstone

The tourist who <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/news/watch-the-wild-moment-a-yellowstone-bison-sends-grandfather-flying">was attacked by a bull bison</a> this past weekend at Yellowstone National Park had other concerns during the life-threatening encounter, according to the photographer who captured the viral incident.
Carl Isom-McDaniel, 65, was visiting the famous landmark in Wyoming with his 13-year-old grandson when he was charged and thrown eight feet into the air, as seen in the video caught by photographer Mike MacLeod.
After Isom-McDaniel was tossed by the massive animal, MacLeod ran up to the grandfather, who was awake for the entirety of the encounter despite breaking his femur in four different places. The first words spoken to the photographer shocked him, as he expressed in a recent interview with Fox News.
“Once I saw the victim in the air, I stopped filming and ran with some other men to haze the bison away and render aid,” MacLeod said in the interview. “I got to him right away, and the first thing he asked is, ‘How is my grandson?’”
To the photographer, it seemed that the grandfather’s protectiveness was clear even before he was tossed eight feet in the air.
“It really felt to me like the grandfather kind of saved his grandson. [He’d] taken the brunt of the attack,” he told Fox News.
“He is very proud of his grandson and very thankful his grandson was not injured.”
Isom-McDaniel’s “grandfather instincts” worked out. His grandson, whom MacLeod has stayed in contact with, was unharmed in the incident and told MacLeod that his grandfather is currently recovering after surgery on his leg Sunday and is still in high spirits. Isom-McDaniels even told MacLeod in a previous interview with <a href="https://cowboystatedaily.com/2026/07/11/tourist-seriously-injured-after-yellowstone-bison-launches-man-8-feet-in-the-air/">Cowboy State Daily</a> that he hopes no one thinks he agitated the bison.
“He was really worried and wanted to see the video to make sure that it wasn’t his fault,” MacLeod stated. “You can tell in the video it’s not his fault.”

Photographer Behind Viral Yellowstone Bison Attack Video Reveals Victim’s First Words

Grandfather

Wyoming

A bison charged and launched a tourist eight feet into the air at Yellowstone National Park in Wyoming this past weekend in a shocking incident that was caught on camera.
The tourist, who was later identified as Carl Isom-McDaniel, broke his femur in four different spots near Yellowstone Lake while visiting the renowned park with his grandson. Professional photographer Mike MacLeod captured the scary incident as he was at the park to record “dramatic footage” of the animal’s behavior, as he told Cowboy State Daily.
At the beginning of the video, Isom-McDaniel and his grandson are seen taking photos of the bison laying in the grass before the animal starts rolling around in the dirt, prompting the grandfather and his grandchild to begin walking away.
The bull bison then stood up and ran toward a white pickup truck that is passing by, seemingly distracting the animal for a few moments. The massive animal then directed its attention back toward the grandfather and his grandson, who were hiding behind a nearby crowd of trees. The grandson was able to evade the bison, but Isom-McDaniel was not as lucky.
Isom-McDaniel was chased in a circle around the grouping of trees before the bison caught up to him, throwing him eight feet into the air before he landed on his leg and hip, as seen in the video. MacLeod then stopped recording and ran to the assistance of Isom-McDaniel with other bystanders.
“One guy held his hand. Another guy pulled security on the outside to make sure that the bison didn’t come back,” MacLeod said. “A gal in the car was on the phone with 911, and another gal did a blood sweep, but we couldn’t find any blood.”
Moments before Isom-McDaniel was launched, MacLeod told the New York Times that the bull charged a group of teenagers and scared other visitors the same day.
According to MacLeod, neither Isom-McDaniel nor his grandson provoked the animal in any way to trigger the charging of the animal. The cause of the attack can possibly be pointed to what National Park Service refers to as “<a href="https://www.nps.gov/articles/bison-bellows-7-27-16.htm">the rut</a>,&#8221; the term for the bull’s mating season that occurs from June through September, with most of the activity occurring during July and August. 
During their mating period, bull bison display high amounts of aggression. This is shown by attacks and “wallowing” which is when the animal rolls around the dirt, as seen in the video. The bison also lifted his tail, giving the tourists and bystanders a warning that it was agitated.
Isom-McDaniel had surgery on his broken femur Sunday and told CNN on Monday that he is already able to stand. After making jokes directly after the event as MacLeod recollected, he remained in high hopes and took to Facebook to let people know he was doing fine.

Watch The Wild Moment A Yellowstone Bison Sends Grandfather Flying

“You are the trailer park. I am the tornado.”
That legendary “Yellowstone” line pretty much sums up the grip Taylor Sheridan still has on America right now. The newest star of the franchise is giving fans a behind-the-scenes look at the kind of country Hollywood either forgot how to make or flat-out hates now.
Natalie Alyn Lind just dropped a collection of on-set photos from Dutton Ranch, and honestly? It looks less like a television set and more like a whiskey-soaked middle finger to modern Hollywood.
No lectures. No awkward activist monologues shoved into every scene like a college diversity seminar nobody asked to attend.
Just horses, Texas dust, old-school chemistry, Broncos, cowboy hats, parking lot fights, sunsets, and the kind of rugged Americana that makes normal people want to throw their phone across the room and buy land somewhere.
Lind, who plays Oreana in the “Yellowstone” spinoff “Dutton Ranch,” kicks things off standing beside co-star Finn Little in front of a green Bronco with the top off, looking like they just escaped a Luke Combs music video. Camel leather seats. Film cameras. Dirt roads. All that scene needed was an American flag flying off the back and Rip Wheeler grilling steaks nearby.
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And unlike half of modern Hollywood, these photos actually have a pulse.
The behind-the-scenes shots tell their own story. Cast members help each other lasso. They laugh over meals instead of trauma dumping into therapy circles. They saddle horses. They sweat in the Texas heat. They look like they’d actually survive outside of Los Angeles for more than seven minutes.
People can feel the difference immediately.
That’s why “Yellowstone” keeps steamrolling the entertainment industry while billion-dollar studios keep producing unwatchable woke slop that disappears faster than CNN+.
Americans are starving for stories about loyalty, family, romance, grit, hard work, and freedom. Not another depressing lecture about why masculinity is toxic from a guy wearing nail polish in a cardigan.
Nobody wants to spend Friday night watching a seven-year-old explain gender theory to his blue-haired parents while sad indie music plays in the background.
They want fistfights in parking lots.
They want whiskey on the porch.
They want cowboy wisdom, broken hearts, pretty girls, sunsets, country music, and Rip Wheeler looking like he’s two seconds away from sending somebody to the train station.
In short, they want America to feel cool again.
That’s exactly what Sheridan keeps delivering while the rest of Hollywood keeps wondering why audiences stopped showing up.
The new series follows Beth Dutton and Rip Wheeler after they relocate to a massive Texas ranch following the loss of their Montana home. Oreana enters the picture as the love interest for Carter, and their romance begins the old-fashioned way: by stepping into the middle of a fight in a parking lot.
Now that’s how you introduce a character.
The set of Dutton Ranch honestly looks like the kind of party the country wishes still existed, you know, the American dream before everything became filtered through HR departments, TikTok activism, and corporate sensitivity training.
Tip of the cowboy hat to Sheridan.
The man just doesn’t miss.

Credit: Michael Loccisano/Getty Images

Yellowstone’s New Star Just Delivered A Whiskey-Soaked Shot At Hollywood

Entertainment

News

Taylor Sheridan

Texas

Taylor Sheridan, the Academy Award–nominated creator behind &#8220;Yellowstone,&#8221; will depart Paramount for NBCUniversal when his contract ends in 2028, according to a recent announcement.
This is a big deal because Sheridan is responsible for several other Paramount hits, including “1923,” “Tulsa King,” “Special Ops: Lioness,” and more popular projects. Sheridan didn’t give a statement explaining why he’s leaving, but anonymous sources say it was partly due to creative differences with Paramount&#8217;s new leadership.
This includes the director’s reluctance to work on a special project celebrating America’s 250th anniversary next year, which was reportedly requested by the company’s new CEO, David Ellison, whom President Donald Trump has called a good friend. Per The Wall Street Journal, Sheridan didn’t want to make anything “<a href="https://www.wsj.com/business/media/why-yellowstone-mastermind-taylor-sheridan-decided-to-ditch-paramount-2192d401">overtly political</a>.” 
It’s worth noting that while “Yellowstone” was very popular with a conservative audience, especially in the early seasons, the show’s creator explicitly stated that he didn’t want it to be.
Join us now during our exclusive Deal of the Decade. Get everything for $7 a month. Not as fans. As fighters. Go to <a href="http://dailywire.com/Subscribe" target="_blank" rel="noopener">DailyWire.com/Subscribe</a> to join now.
“They refer to it as ‘the conservative show’ or ‘the Republican show’ or ‘the red-state Game of Thrones,’ ” Sheridan <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/news/yellowstone-creator-taylor-sheridan-laughs-at-the-idea-of-series-being-a-red-state-show">told</a> The Atlantic in 2022.
“And I just sit back laughing. I’m like, ‘Really?’ The show’s talking about the displacement of Native Americans and the way Native American women were treated and about corporate greed and the gentrification of the West, and land-grabbing. That’s a red-state show?”
He said the same in 2019, calling the idea of “Yellowstone” advancing conservative ideas “the most ridiculous thing.”
Budgets are clearly a major concern months after the close of the $8.4 billion merger of Paramount and Skydance. Per a <a href="https://deadline.com/2025/10/paramount-layoffs-begin-ceo-david-ellison-1236600654/">memo</a> from Ellison, 1,000 employees are being laid off this week, and 1,000 more will be let go soon. The CEO told staff, “These steps are necessary to position Paramount for long-term success.”
Larry Ellison, the billionaire co-founder of Oracle, backed his son David Ellison’s company, Skydance Media, in its takeover of Paramount Global. While David serves as CEO, Larry remains the primary financial force behind the deal, operating largely behind the scenes. Ellison, who has a close relationship with President Trump, is also working with him on a deal involving TikTok’s U.S. operations.

‘Yellowstone’ Creator Who Quit Paramount Snubbed U.S. Celebration Pitch, Citing Politics: Report

'Yellowstone' Creator Who Quit Paramount Was Opposed To Making America Celebration Special: Report

Paramount

Politics

Televison

The passing of Native American actor Graham Greene reminded us of the Oscar-winning 1990 film “Dances with Wolves.” The film cast Greene as Kicking Bird, and his screen time with director and star Kevin Costner set the table for the drama.
The film remains beloved for its portrait of the American West, many warts and all. It’s also emblematic of Costner’s career, one dedicated to the great outdoors in the grand American tradition.
Few actors have clung to that mythos like Costner, from his directorial breakthrough with “Dances with Wolves” to his most recent venture, the “Horizon” saga. Along the way, Costner has explored the American wilderness on screens large and small, creating a genuine affection for his country in the process.
<div id="attachment_969287" style="width: 825px" class="wp-caption aligncenter"><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" aria-describedby="caption-attachment-969287" class="size-large wp-image-969287" src="https://dw-wp-production.imgix.net/2025/09/MixCollage-05-Sep-2025-04-37-PM-7630-815x576.jpg" alt="Kevin Costner in “Dances with Wolves” 1990. Tig Productions. Majestic Films International. Allied Filmmakers. Photo by Archive Photos/Getty Images copyright 2012. IMDB." width="815" height="576" srcset="https://dw-wp-production.imgix.net/2025/09/MixCollage-05-Sep-2025-04-37-PM-7630-815x576.jpg 815w, https://dw-wp-production.imgix.net/2025/09/MixCollage-05-Sep-2025-04-37-PM-7630-300x212.jpg 300w, https://dw-wp-production.imgix.net/2025/09/MixCollage-05-Sep-2025-04-37-PM-7630-768x543.jpg 768w, https://dw-wp-production.imgix.net/2025/09/MixCollage-05-Sep-2025-04-37-PM-7630-1536x1086.jpg 1536w, https://dw-wp-production.imgix.net/2025/09/MixCollage-05-Sep-2025-04-37-PM-7630-2048x1448.jpg 2048w" sizes=" (max-width: 815px) 100vw, 815px" />Kevin Costner in “Dances with Wolves” 1990. Tig Productions. Majestic Films International. Allied Filmmakers. Photo by Archive Photos/Getty Images copyright 2012. IMDB.</div>
He didn’t sugarcoat the land’s flaws then, and he refused to do so in subsequent projects. America’s natural beauty and potential proved his constant companion.
It explains why he endures as more than just a movie star at the age of 70. He’s part of the cultural fabric. And, even when he’s taking political stances that anger a good half of the country, his treasure trove of goodwill barely takes a hit.
Costner famously got left on the editing room floor in 1983’s“The Big Chill,” even though his character’s fate powered the nostalgia-laced drama. Director Lawrence Kasdan made amends to the young actor by casting him in the ensemble western “Silverado.”
<div id="attachment_969291" style="width: 720px" class="wp-caption aligncenter"><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" aria-describedby="caption-attachment-969291" class="size-large wp-image-969291" src="https://dw-wp-production.imgix.net/2025/09/GettyImages-468733013-710x576.jpg" alt="CIRCA 1985: Actors Kevin Costner, Scott Glenn, Kevin Kline and Danny Glover on set the movie &quot;Silverado&quot; circa 1985. (Photo by Michael Ochs Archives/Getty Images)" width="710" height="576" srcset="https://dw-wp-production.imgix.net/2025/09/GettyImages-468733013-710x576.jpg 710w, https://dw-wp-production.imgix.net/2025/09/GettyImages-468733013-300x243.jpg 300w, https://dw-wp-production.imgix.net/2025/09/GettyImages-468733013-768x623.jpg 768w, https://dw-wp-production.imgix.net/2025/09/GettyImages-468733013.jpg 1024w" sizes=" (max-width: 710px) 100vw, 710px" />CIRCA 1985: Actors Kevin Costner, Scott Glenn, Kevin Kline and Danny Glover on set the movie &#8220;Silverado&#8221; circa 1985. (Photo by Michael Ochs Archives/Getty Images)</div>
From there, Costner landed “The Untouchables” (1987), “Bull Durham” (1988), and “Field of Dreams” (1989), a run of hits few actors could match, then or now. That gave him the clout to start shaping his career on his terms. And that led to “Dances with Wolves.”
The film may appear “woke” in retrospect, showcasing a guilt-ridden white man coming to terms with his country’s cruelty to Native Americans. Costner grounded the Western epic with respect for all its elements – from historical realities to the harsh truths about frontier life. 
Such messaging is often found in movies with what YouTube film and TV critic, The Critical Drinker, famously calls “The Message.” Costner, however, refused to lecture without context or push an agenda without exploring that time and place from all angles.
“Dances with Wolves” brought the nation’s complicated history to life, not with finger-wagging asides but a three-dimensional portrait that couldn’t be denied.
And, in the process, he forged a connection with American storytelling that became his unofficial identity. Costner has worked constantly since that film’s release, and his career has hit the usual bumps along the way.
He returned to the American West repeatedly over the years, from the unsung 2003 western “Open Range” to 1994’s “Wyatt Earp.” The latter got overshadowed by “Tombstone,” released a year earlier and featuring an iconic turn from Val Kilmer as Doc Holliday.
And, when his career appeared to be on the downside, Costner teamed with rising TV producer Taylor Sheridan to anchor “Yellowstone.” The Paramount series wasn’t set in the 1800s, but its Montana backdrop and timeless themes connected to the stories Costner knows best.
How many modern shows reflect the natural beauty of a state like Montana? For Costner and Sheridan, it just felt like home.
At a time when even “hit” TV shows draw a fraction of the audience of prior smashes, “Yellowstone” drew huge ratings. The show’s 2024 finale drew north of 13 million viewers.
<div id="attachment_969295" style="width: 825px" class="wp-caption aligncenter"><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" aria-describedby="caption-attachment-969295" class="size-large wp-image-969295" src="https://dw-wp-production.imgix.net/2025/09/MixCollage-05-Sep-2025-04-50-PM-769-815x576.jpg" alt="Kevin Costner, Cole Hauser in &quot;Yellowstone, Watch 'Em Ride Away&quot;Photo by Courtesy of Paramount Network - copyright Paramount Network 2022" width="815" height="576" srcset="https://dw-wp-production.imgix.net/2025/09/MixCollage-05-Sep-2025-04-50-PM-769-815x576.jpg 815w, https://dw-wp-production.imgix.net/2025/09/MixCollage-05-Sep-2025-04-50-PM-769-300x212.jpg 300w, https://dw-wp-production.imgix.net/2025/09/MixCollage-05-Sep-2025-04-50-PM-769-768x543.jpg 768w, https://dw-wp-production.imgix.net/2025/09/MixCollage-05-Sep-2025-04-50-PM-769-1536x1086.jpg 1536w, https://dw-wp-production.imgix.net/2025/09/MixCollage-05-Sep-2025-04-50-PM-769-2048x1448.jpg 2048w" sizes=" (max-width: 815px) 100vw, 815px" />Kevin Costner, Cole Hauser in &#8220;Yellowstone: Watch &#8216;Em Ride Away&#8221; Photo by Courtesy of Paramount Network &#8211; copyright Paramount Network 2022</div>
The Sheridan saga featured a sprawling cast, but Costner’s John Dutton anchored the show. Once again, the actor’s instincts and authenticity made the series matter.
Actors can only fake so much. Audiences see the now weathered star as a credible and engaging part of the American landscape. He leaned on that persona for not one but two FOX Nation limited series based on Yellowstone history – “Yellowstone One Fifty” and “Yellowstone to Yosemite with Kevin Costner.”
Costner’s cinematic passions came to a head last year with a project that may never be completed as he originally envisioned it.
Costner returned to the director’s chair for 2024’s “Horizon: An American Saga.” The old-school western cost him a pretty penny, and then some. The star used his sizable wealth to help fund what he saw as a four-part movie saga.
The first installment drew modest reviews and tepid box office results – just $38 million worldwide. The second chapter, already filmed, currently lacks a release date, although it debuted at the Venice International Film Festival last year.
The actor has been open about struggling to fund parts three and four, and it’s possible the saga will end with the second film.
The irony? Costner began dreaming up the story behind “Horizon” in the late 1980s, just before his directorial breakthrough with “Dances with Wolves.” His quest to turn the American West into a deeply personal film franchise may have been doomed by fiscal realities, but it’s in line with Costner’s creative self.
He loves America, from its natural splendor to its ability to let citizens dream impossible dreams. And nowhere is that more evident than in the great outdoors.
* * *
Christian Toto is an award-winning journalist, movie critic and editor of <a href="https://www.hollywoodintoto.com/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">HollywoodInToto.com</a>. He previously served as associate editor with Breitbart News’ Big Hollywood. Follow him at <a href="https://www.hollywoodintoto.com/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">HollywoodInToto.com</a>.
The views expressed in this piece are those of the author and do not necessarily represent those of The Daily Wire.

Fanatics Fest NYC 2025

Kevin Costner: The Wild Wild West Movie Star

actors

Celebrities

Hollywood

Kevin Costner

Montana

Movies

Spoiler warning: This story contains spoilers for Season 5 Episode 14 of “Yellowstone.”
Fans took to social media to react to finally getting a finale to the popular “<a href="https://www.dailywire.com/news/he-deserved-better-yellowstone-fans-furious-at-kevin-costners-exit">Yellowstone</a>” series — following Kevin Costner’s exit from the show — and many have made it clear they aren’t happy, saying that the end was rushed and “too predictable.”
On Sunday, the final episode of the second half of Season 5 of the hit Paramount series — titled “Life is a Promise” — aired. Show creator Taylor Sheridan apparently attempted to wrap up all the loose ends of the show, and fans were not terribly impressed with the way that played out onscreen. The Dutton ranch was saved when it was given back to the Native Americans — to keep the land pristine — and the shocking conclusion to the sibling battle that’s been brewing for years bubbled over between Beth Dutton (Kelly Reilly) and Jamie Dutton (Wes Bentley), with Beth dealing the final blow to Jamie.
“Yellowstone finale was a big let down for me,” <a href="https://x.com/sandrajaniga/status/1868498819324981464">one person wrote</a>. “Too predictable and Taylor Sheridan put himself into too many scenes when he was not an integral part of the family. Kevin Costner was Yellowstone and the day he left the show, it died with him. Too bad for a great series.”
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet">
Yellowstone finale was a big let down for me. Too predictable and Taylor Sheridan put himself in to many scenes when he was not an integral part of the family. Kevin Costner was Yellowstone and the day he left the show, it died with him. Too bad for a great series. <a href="https://t.co/Vk7tiF7Nmo">pic.twitter.com/Vk7tiF7Nmo</a>
— SJ🇺🇸Close the Border! Trump 2024! (@sandrajaniga) <a href="https://twitter.com/sandrajaniga/status/1868498819324981464?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">December 16, 2024</a></blockquote>
<a href="https://x.com/HighyieldHarry/status/1868493079310909888">Another person wrote</a>, “Yellowstone series finale ended. The show fell off so hard it&#8217;s crazy. Same with Ozark. Really gotta give Vince Gilligan, plus the Succession folks, more credit for knowing how to build a great series and landing the endings.”
While a <a href="https://x.com/arcticninjapaul/status/1868529939622048063">third person wrote</a>, “Well, it was a race to the finish for the<a href="https://x.com/hashtag/Yellowstone?src=hashtag_click"> #Yellowstone</a> finale. It will always be bittersweet that Costner wasn’t a part of the last ride, which felt like an expedited conclusion as it is. The finale struggled between some genuine heartfelt moments,  dragged-out scenes (did we need THAT much of the Lainey Wilson performance?), and quickly tied up loose ends (including the fate of Jamie) that could’ve used some more emotional heft had things not been pushed to this point.”
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“While I loved the first four seasons, this final one simply fell apart between the studio, the showrunner, and the lead, making a mess of what could’ve been and soured the legacy to some degree,” the person added. 
It comes following fans&#8217; disappointment with the fate of Costner’s character Gov. John Dutton, saying he deserved so much better after Costner was written off the show in the final season’s premiere episode, as <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/news/he-deserved-better-yellowstone-fans-furious-at-kevin-costners-exit" target="_blank" rel="noopener">previously reported</a>.
In the first 30 seconds of the hit Paramount series, fans learned that Sheridan apparently didn’t have plans for any kind of heroic ending for its leading man for the second half of Season 5 — two years after the first half of the season debuted, and a year after fans learned that Costner wouldn’t be part of the series any longer. His death was initially portrayed as suicide, but in a short amount of time, it became clear that he was murdered.
Related: <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/news/he-deserved-better-yellowstone-fans-furious-at-kevin-costners-exit" target="_blank" rel="noopener">‘He Deserved Better’: &#8216;Yellowstone’ Fans Furious At Kevin Costner’s Exit</a>

Premiere Party For Paramount Network’s “Yellowstone” Season 2 – Arrivals

Fans React To ‘Yellowstone’ Series Finale

The “<a href="https://www.dailywire.com/topic/yellowstone" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Yellowstone</a>” universe might not be ending with the highly-anticipated upcoming finale of the series after two major characters have reportedly signed new deals.
Sources with knowledge told <a href="https://www.instagram.com/p/DDcUtoKsBH3/?igsh=NTc4MTIwNjQ2YQ%3D%3D">Deadline</a> that two of the stars of the popular Paramount series about the Dutton family, Cole Hauser and Kelly Reilly, have reportedly closed deals to be part of a spinoff series, reprising their roles of husband and wife Rip Wheeler and Beth Dutton.
The insider said the creator of “Yellowstone,” Taylor Sheridan, is reportedly working on the creative for the show, which could include others from the series that has captured fans since the first season launched, led by Kevin Costner, in 2018.
The spinoff will be the first to follow the current storyline that comes to an end with Season 5’s final episode that will air on Sunday, December 15.
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet">
EXCLUSIVE: The upcoming Season 5 finale of &#8216;Yellowstone&#8217; will not be the end of the Dutton clan’s story. Series standouts Kelly Reilly and Cole Hauser have closed deals to lead a spinoff series, reprising their roles as Beth Dutton and Rip Wheeler, respectively, sources tell… <a href="https://t.co/RMSaY34K70">pic.twitter.com/RMSaY34K70</a>
— Deadline (@DEADLINE) <a href="https://twitter.com/DEADLINE/status/1866865941616705588?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">December 11, 2024</a></blockquote>
The “Yellowstone” series focuses on the “Dutton family who controls the largest contiguous cattle ranch in the United States. Amid shifting alliances, unsolved murders, open wounds and hard-earned respect — the ranch is in constant conflict with those it borders — an expanding town, an Indian reservation, and America’s first national park,” <a href="https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/tv/tv-news/yellowstone-trailer-season5b-1235987773/">The Hollywood Reporter</a> noted.
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The news follows a report earlier this year that at least two spinoffs could be a reality in the future for the series, with the conclusion of the current season centering around <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/news/he-deserved-better-yellowstone-fans-furious-at-kevin-costners-exit">Costner’s character</a>’s departure from the show, <a href="https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/tv/tv-news/yellowstone-season-5-final-episodes-production-date-1235651790/">THR</a> noted. The spinoffs will come from the existing producers MTV Entertainment Studios and 101 Studios.
At the time, one of the new shows had a working title of “2024” and reportedly would put the Duttons in the present day. The other is expected to follow in the footsteps of the two earlier “Yellowstone” prequels, “1883” and “1923,” with a current title of “1944.”
Hauser previously appeared to address the rumors he could be part of one of the spinoffs, as previously <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/news/yellowstone-star-hints-at-spin-off-series-dealing-with-two-popular-characters-romance">reported</a>.
“I know that there’s some stuff on the horizon when it comes to Taylor’s ideas for Kelly Reilly and myself, and some of the other cast,” Hauser said. “I’m excited to see where he goes creatively with that. But right now it’s just: Let’s finish strong; let’s do the best we can.”
<a href="https://collider.com/yellowstone-spinoff-update-kelly-reilly/">Reilly</a> also seemed to hint about her involvement in a spinoff in a recent interview, but made it clear that she didn’t “have an answer right now. But we’ll see.”
Costner previously told <a href="https://www.gq.com/story/kevin-costner-gq-cover-story">GQ</a> that a scheduling conflict had nothing to do with his departure from the series amid reports that blamed him for halting production on the second half of the season due to filming for his western movie “Horizon: An American Saga-Chapter 1,” followed by the writers’ and actors’ strikes, as previously <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/news/yellowstone-fans-get-major-update-about-series-return">reported</a>.
Related: <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/news/he-deserved-better-yellowstone-fans-furious-at-kevin-costners-exit" target="_blank" rel="noopener">‘He Deserved Better’: Yellowstone’ Fans Furious At Kevin Costner’s Exit</a>

Paramount Network’s “Yellowstone” Season 2 Premiere Party At Lombardi House

‘Yellowstone’ Universe Won’t End With Finale After Two Major Characters Sign New Deal

U.S.

TV mastermind Taylor Sheridan isn’t a conservative. He’s suggested as much in various interviews, and there’s little reason to doubt him.
He just knows how conservatives think and refuses to ignore them. And, sometimes, he lets them speak without a filter. If Hollywood wants to thrive in the Trump 2.0 era, it should watch a Sheridan show.
And take some notes.
<div id="attachment_840069" style="width: 891px" class="wp-caption aligncenter"><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" aria-describedby="caption-attachment-840069" class="size-large wp-image-840069" src="https://dw-wp-production.imgix.net/2024/12/Billy-Bobb-II-881x576.jpeg" alt="Billy Bob Thornton in “Landman.” Photo by Emerson Miller/Emerson Miller/Paramount+. Copyright 2024 Viacom International Inc. All Rights Reserved. “Landman” and all related titles, logos and characters are trademarks of Viacom. IMDB." width="881" height="576" srcset="https://dw-wp-production.imgix.net/2024/12/Billy-Bobb-II-881x576.jpeg 881w, https://dw-wp-production.imgix.net/2024/12/Billy-Bobb-II-300x196.jpeg 300w, https://dw-wp-production.imgix.net/2024/12/Billy-Bobb-II-768x502.jpeg 768w, https://dw-wp-production.imgix.net/2024/12/Billy-Bobb-II-1536x1004.jpeg 1536w, https://dw-wp-production.imgix.net/2024/12/Billy-Bobb-II-2048x1338.jpeg 2048w" sizes=" (max-width: 881px) 100vw, 881px" />Billy Bob Thornton in “Landman.” Photo by Emerson Miller/Emerson Miller/Paramount+. Copyright 2024 Viacom International Inc. All Rights Reserved.</div>
Sheridan’s newest series, “Landman,” recently went viral for a character’s screed against the green movement. Billy Bob Thornton plays Tommy Norris, an oil company executive who <a href="https://www.foxnews.com/media/scene-from-billy-bob-thorntons-new-show-landman-slams-clean-energy-goes-viral-x" target="_blank" rel="noopener">puts a green activist in her place.</a>
<blockquote>You have any idea how much diesel will have to burn to mix that much concrete or make that steel and haul this s*** out here and put it together with a 450-foot crane? You want to guess how much oil it takes to lubricate that f***ing thing? Or winterize it? In its 20-year lifespan, it won’t offset the carbon footprint of making it. And don’t get me started on solar panels and the lithium in your Tesla battery.</blockquote>
That’s just part of Tommy’s stemwinder. Is it any wonder social media ate it up? Can you imagine that dialogue coming from a network TV show? What about an HBO original? A Netflix and Chill affair?
Impossible.
Sheridan is willing to share stories and angles others miss. It’s why he conquered the small screen in dramatic fashion.
It’s not surprising that “Landman,” co-starring Jon Hamm, Demi Moore and Ali Larter, is another Sheridan smash.
The Paramount+ original’s debut drew a <a href="https://variety.com/2024/tv/news/landman-ratings-paramount-plus-views-1236234121/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">total of 14.6 million viewers</a> in one week across the streaming network and the Paramount Network. That’s the <a href="https://www.thewrap.com/landman-paramount-plus-ratings/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">biggest debut</a> for a Paramount+ streaming original.
That matters in the highly competitive streaming landscape.
In just six years Sheridan has upended the world of television with his muscular, uncompromised vision. In that span he’s given us “Yellowstone,” “Tulsa King,” “Special Ops: Lioness.” “1883,” “1923,” “Mayor of Kingstown” and now “Landman.”
<div id="attachment_840061" style="width: 872px" class="wp-caption aligncenter"><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" aria-describedby="caption-attachment-840061" class="wp-image-840061 size-large" src="https://dw-wp-production.imgix.net/2024/12/GettyImages-971891732-862x576.jpg" alt="HOLLYWOOD, CA - JUNE 11: Taylor Sheridan, Kelly Reilly and Kevin Costner attend the premiere of Paramount Pictures' &quot;Yellowstone&quot; at Paramount Studios on June 11, 2018 in Hollywood, California. (Photo by Presley Ann/Getty Images)" width="862" height="576" srcset="https://dw-wp-production.imgix.net/2024/12/GettyImages-971891732-862x576.jpg 862w, https://dw-wp-production.imgix.net/2024/12/GettyImages-971891732-300x200.jpg 300w, https://dw-wp-production.imgix.net/2024/12/GettyImages-971891732-768x513.jpg 768w, https://dw-wp-production.imgix.net/2024/12/GettyImages-971891732.jpg 1024w" sizes=" (max-width: 862px) 100vw, 862px" />Taylor Sheridan, Kelly Reilly and Kevin Costner attend the premiere of Paramount Pictures&#8217; &#8220;Yellowstone&#8221; at Paramount Studios on June 11, 2018 in Hollywood, California. (Photo by Presley Ann/Getty Images)</div>
Not every series is a blockbuster, although “Yellowstone” more than qualifies. The series inspired two prequel shows and more spinoffs may be on the way.
“Tulsa King,” starring Hollywood icon Sylvester Stallone as a mafioso who brings his thuggish acumen to the Midwest, is another hit. Paramount+ is teasing a deal to bring a third and fourth season of the show to viewers.
The first season found Stallone’s Dwight Manfredi railing against some of the <a href="https://grabien.com/story?id=418091">cultural changes</a> that happened while he was in prison.
“And these pronouns. What the f*** is with the pronouns? He, she, him, they, the, boom, bang, ba, fa, foo. You know what my pronoun is? Guess. Time’s up. It. As in, it can’t take this s*** anymore. I’m all for change. I am. I really am. But somebody keeps moving the goalpost.”
<div id="attachment_840085" style="width: 825px" class="wp-caption aligncenter"><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" aria-describedby="caption-attachment-840085" class="size-large wp-image-840085" src="https://dw-wp-production.imgix.net/2024/12/MixCollage-06-Dec-2024-04-06-PM-6607-815x576.jpg" alt="Sylvester Stallone in &quot;Tulsa King&quot; (2022). Paramount+. IMDB." width="815" height="576" srcset="https://dw-wp-production.imgix.net/2024/12/MixCollage-06-Dec-2024-04-06-PM-6607-815x576.jpg 815w, https://dw-wp-production.imgix.net/2024/12/MixCollage-06-Dec-2024-04-06-PM-6607-300x212.jpg 300w, https://dw-wp-production.imgix.net/2024/12/MixCollage-06-Dec-2024-04-06-PM-6607-768x543.jpg 768w, https://dw-wp-production.imgix.net/2024/12/MixCollage-06-Dec-2024-04-06-PM-6607-1536x1086.jpg 1536w, https://dw-wp-production.imgix.net/2024/12/MixCollage-06-Dec-2024-04-06-PM-6607-2048x1448.jpg 2048w" sizes=" (max-width: 815px) 100vw, 815px" />Sylvester Stallone in &#8220;Tulsa King&#8221; (2022). Paramount+. IMDB.</div>
Sheridan isn’t just making up dialogue. He’s listening to both halves of the country. Another sequence found Stallone’s character accusing someone of racially profiling his young black colleague.
It’s precisely how a shrewd operator like Manfredi would shift the balance of power to his advantage. It’s not woke. It’s storytelling.
Keep in mind Manfredi is the story’s anti-hero. Viewers are rooting for him, despite his flaws, much like they rallied behind James Gandolfini’s patriarch in “The Sopranos.”
Conservatives quickly latched onto “Yellowstone” as that rare conservative show early in its run. The saga followed an old-school rancher, memorably played by Kevin Costner, and his complicated brood.
How many shows are set in Montana these days?
<div id="attachment_840111" style="width: 769px" class="wp-caption aligncenter"><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" aria-describedby="caption-attachment-840111" class="wp-image-840111 size-large" src="https://dw-wp-production.imgix.net/2024/12/GettyImages-1446611904-759x576.jpg" alt="LAS VEGAS, NEVADA - DECEMBER 03: (L-R) Helen Mirren, Taylor Sheridan, and Harrison Ford attend Paramount+'s &quot;1923&quot; Las Vegas Premiere at the Encore Theater at Wynn Las Vegas on December 03, 2022 in Las Vegas, Nevada. (Photo by Mindy Small/Getty Images)" width="759" height="576" srcset="https://dw-wp-production.imgix.net/2024/12/GettyImages-1446611904-759x576.jpg 759w, https://dw-wp-production.imgix.net/2024/12/GettyImages-1446611904-300x228.jpg 300w, https://dw-wp-production.imgix.net/2024/12/GettyImages-1446611904-768x583.jpg 768w, https://dw-wp-production.imgix.net/2024/12/GettyImages-1446611904.jpg 1024w" sizes=" (max-width: 759px) 100vw, 759px" />(L-R) Helen Mirren, Taylor Sheridan, and Harrison Ford attend Paramount+&#8217;s &#8220;1923&#8221; Las Vegas Premiere at the Encore Theater at Wynn Las Vegas on December 03, 2022. (Photo by Mindy Small/Getty Images)</div>
Yet some conservatives railed against progressive elements in the saga, from vegan protesters to a lesbian romance.
<a href="https://www.foxbusiness.com/entertainment/yellowstone-director-taylor-sheridan-reacts-claims-show-anti-woke-really" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Sheridan politely disagreed</a> with the conservative label some slapped on the drama.
&#8220;And I just sit back laughing. I’m like, ‘Really?’ The show’s talking about the displacement of Native Americans and the way Native American women were treated…about corporate greed…the gentrification of the West, and land-grabbing. That’s a red-state show?&#8221;
He’s right. It’s not a red-meat entrée for a famished heartland. It’s just been so long since conservatives saw themselves on screen they embraced the saga, warts and all.
That’s ultimately Sheridan’s trick. He’s not looking to score cheap partisan points or curry favor with progressives. The story comes first. And he doesn’t seem to care that his apolitical bent may hurt him come awards time.
<div id="attachment_840091" style="width: 745px" class="wp-caption aligncenter"><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" aria-describedby="caption-attachment-840091" class="wp-image-840091 size-large" src="https://dw-wp-production.imgix.net/2024/12/GettyImages-1358551240-735x576.jpg" alt="LAS VEGAS, NEVADA - DECEMBER 11: Sam Elliott (L) and Taylor Sheridan attend the after party for the world premiere of &quot;1883&quot; at SW Steakhouse at Wynn Las Vegas on December 11, 2021 in Las Vegas, Nevada. (Photo by Ethan Miller/Getty Images)" width="735" height="576" srcset="https://dw-wp-production.imgix.net/2024/12/GettyImages-1358551240-735x576.jpg 735w, https://dw-wp-production.imgix.net/2024/12/GettyImages-1358551240-300x235.jpg 300w, https://dw-wp-production.imgix.net/2024/12/GettyImages-1358551240-768x602.jpg 768w, https://dw-wp-production.imgix.net/2024/12/GettyImages-1358551240.jpg 1024w" sizes=" (max-width: 735px) 100vw, 735px" />Sam Elliott (L) and Taylor Sheridan attend the after party for the world premiere of &#8220;1883&#8221; at SW Steakhouse at Wynn Las Vegas on December 11, 2021. (Photo by Ethan Miller/Getty Images)</div>
“Yellowstone” earned strong reviews and endless audience praise, but to date, it’s snagged just one Emmy nomination for Outstanding Production Design. It’s a populist hit, and that’s more than enough for Sheridan. After all, network executives care more about ratings than awards.
The actor-turned-showrunner is neither Right nor Left, but he certainly isn’t woke. That became clear during a January chat with Spotify superstar <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Fm9N-lyNQms" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Joe Rogan</a>. The two mocked the notion of “toxic masculinity,” with Sheridan revealing the thinking behind his TV empire.
“You need masculinity and femininity,” he explained <a href="https://www.foxnews.com/media/yellowstone-creator-rogan-scoff-modern-liberal-ideology-demonizing-work-ethic-masculinity" target="_blank" rel="noopener">before taking on the Left’s word police movement.</a>
“It&#8217;s fascinating that language is being reinvented before our eyes. There&#8217;s all these new words that are just meant to keep one person from disagreeing with another person&#8217;s position.&#8221;
Woke is the enemy of creative storytelling. Sheridan, no matter his political leanings, instinctively gets that. His growing body of work captures that philosophy. It’s no wonder he conquered TV in the Age of Woke. He had little competition.
* * *
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* * *
Christian Toto is an award-winning journalist, movie critic and editor of <a href="https://www.hollywoodintoto.com/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">HollywoodInToto.com</a>. He previously served as associate editor with Breitbart News’ Big Hollywood. Follow him at <a href="https://www.hollywoodintoto.com/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">HollywoodInToto.com</a>.
The views expressed in this piece are those of the author and do not necessarily represent those of The Daily Wire.

MixCollage-06-Dec-2024-03-41-PM-7843

Running The Show: The Worlds Of Taylor Sheridan

Hollywod

Television

Woke Culture

Spoiler warning: This article contains spoilers for Season 5, Episode 12.
The hit Paramount show “<a href="https://www.dailywire.com/topic/yellowstone">Yellowstone</a>” killed off another character in Sunday night’s <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/topic/television">episode</a>, leaving some fans upset because this is one they didn’t see coming.
Earlier this season, family patriarch John Dutton (<a href="https://www.dailywire.com/topic/kevin-costner">Kevin Costner</a>) was killed in a not-so-surprising twist to everyone who understood that Costner was not returning to the second half of the fifth season, choosing instead to focus his time on his own passion project Western film, “Horizon: An American Saga.”
The episode after that included another surprise death. Sarah Atwood (Dawn Olivieri), the character who hired the company that killed Dutton and framed it as a suicide, was also murdered. Sunday night’s episode showed the minor yet beloved character Colby Mayfield (Denim Richards), who has been on the show since it began, getting killed off.
Colby died after being kicked in the chest by a wild stallion.
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Fans headed to social media to express disdain for the character’s death, blaming showrunner Taylor Sheridan for messing with their emotions.
Richards posted a photo of a director’s chair with his name on it, plus his cowboy hat and boots, and included the caption, “Grateful.”
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-width="500" data-dnt="true">
Grateful✊🏾🙏🏾✊🏾 <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/YellowstoneTV?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#YellowstoneTV</a> <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/yellowstone?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#yellowstone</a> <a href="https://t.co/ebrKfOxdvd">pic.twitter.com/ebrKfOxdvd</a>
&mdash; Denim Richards (@DenimRichards) <a href="https://twitter.com/DenimRichards/status/1863443562165158377?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">December 2, 2024</a></blockquote>
<script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>
“My whole fam is in a bad mood tonight. Why did this hurt worse than John being killed?” one fan <a href="https://x.com/Oh_Katie_Babie/status/1863454422203801768">wrote</a> in response to Richards’ X post.
“There [have] been all kinds of death on the show. This one felt the worst. Brilliant part for an equally brilliant actor. Well done Sir,” another response <a href="https://x.com/BranshawThe/status/1863454448476946610">said</a>.
“I am so happy for your success in the show but I AM LIVID about Taylor killing my favorite cowboy,” a third fan <a href="https://x.com/sdshelt/status/1863445755119202596">wrote</a>. “I was yelling at the TV and my husband! Well at least he went out in a heroic way. But I will not get over this any time soon! Thanks for playing Colby, I loved him!”
There are only two episodes left in the season, with the finale scheduled to air on Paramount on December 15.

Paramount Network’s “Yellowstone” Season 5B NYC Premiere

‘Yellowstone’ Fans React To Third Character Death This Season

'Yellowstone' Fans React To Third Character Death This Season

Spoiler warning: This story contains spoilers for Season 5 Episode 9 of “Yellowstone.”
Actor <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/topic/kevin-costner">Kevin Costner</a> has weighed in on the fate of his character in the popular drama “<a href="https://www.dailywire.com/topic/yellowstone">Yellowstone</a>” after the premiere of season 5, part 2 on Sunday night.
The writers killed off Costner’s character, John Dutton, in a death that’s indicated to be a suicide but could have been a setup that covered up a murder. The 69-year-old actor said in an interview with SiriusXM’s “The Michael Smerconish Program” on Monday that he had no idea how the writers would handle his exit.
“I’m going to be perfectly honest. I didn’t know it was actually airing last night,” Costner said. “That’s a swear to God moment. I swear to God. 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.”
The actor had already discussed being done with “Yellowstone” after filming the first half of season 5.
“I didn’t see it,” he said of the latest episode. “I heard it’s a suicide, so that doesn’t make me want to rush to go see it,” Costner added. 
Smerconish said that Dutton didn’t seem like “a suicide kind of guy,” prompting the actor to discuss the writers, saying, “Well, they’re pretty smart people. Maybe it’s a red herring. Who knows? They’re very good. And they’ll figure that out.”
Costner said he had previously discussed “endings” for the character but did not talk about the idea of suicide. Ultimately, he said how writers handled Dutton’s death was “their business,” per <a href="https://variety.com/2024/tv/news/kevin-costner-reacts-john-dutton-yellowstone-death-1236206700/">Variety</a>.
<a href="https://www.amiracist.com/?_gl=1*jtghwp*_gcl_au*ODQ1NjYzNTg2LjE3Mjg5MDk3OTE.*_ga*MTc2NzM0NDQ2NS4xNzI4OTA5Nzkx*_ga_CZKR9ZYKJP*MTczMDEyMDgwOS40OS4xLjE3MzAxMjA4MzkuMzAuMC4w">MATT WALSH’S ‘AM I RACIST?’ NOW STREAMING ON DAILYWIRE+</a>
Many fans were furious over the popular character&#8217;s departure from the show, as The Daily Wire previously <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/news/he-deserved-better-yellowstone-fans-furious-at-kevin-costners-exit">reported</a>.
“John Dutton deserved to go out like a gladiator, not a victim. Completely undoes the series. I’m not a fan at all how #Yellowstone handled Costner’s departure,” one person wrote.
“John Dutton was a fantastic character, and despite the Kevin Costner drama, he deserved a better goodbye than Yellowstone gave him,” a second fan agreed.
The actor cited scheduling conflicts as his main reason for leaving &#8220;Yellowstone.&#8221; Costner devoted a lot of time to his Western movie series, “Horizon,” which has so far gotten mixed reviews from critics and fans. 
The actor previously said he was open to returning to &#8220;Yellowstone.&#8221;

Kevin Costner Reacts To His ‘Yellowstone’ Character’s Fate

Kevin Costner Reacts To His 'Yellowstone' Character's Fate

“Yellowstone” fans took to social media to make it clear they are furious with the way <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/topic/kevin-costner" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Kevin Costner</a>’s character Governor John Dutton was written off the show when the final season premiered on Sunday.
In the first 30 seconds of the hit Paramount series, fans learned that creator Taylor Sheridan apparently didn’t have plans for any kind of heroic ending for its leading man for the second half of Season 5 — two years after the first half of the season debuted, and a year after fans learned that Costner wouldn’t be part of the series any longer.
Spoiler ahead: 
The series opened with Dutton’s daughter Beth (played by Kelly Reilly) driving up to the Governor’s mansion and getting out crying. When she and her brother, Kaycee (Luke Grimes), both finally get past the authorities, fans see a blood splatter on a bathroom wall and a partial view of Costner’s character in his boxers with a gun next to his hand. 
His death is initially portrayed as suicide, but in a short amount of time we learn there’s much more going on with his death, which is likely a murder.
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet">
John Dutton deserved to go out like a gladiator, not a victim. Completely undoes the series. I’m not a fan at all how <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/Yellowstone?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#Yellowstone</a> handled Costner’s departure. <a href="https://t.co/mECsM6gluf">pic.twitter.com/mECsM6gluf</a>
— @Matthew Betley (@MatthewBetley) <a href="https://twitter.com/MatthewBetley/status/1855810834871497111?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">November 11, 2024</a></blockquote>
However, many disgusted with the exit of the fan favorite let producers know on social media, <a href="https://www.foxnews.com/entertainment/yellowstone-fans-furious-over-kevin-costners-series-sendoff-complain-show-has-jumped-shark-so-badly">Fox News</a> reported.
&#8220;Yellowstone has its first episode without Kevin Costner and they already ruined it in the first 5 minutes,&#8221; one person wrote.
Another added, &#8220;John Dutton deserved to go out like a gladiator, not a victim. Completely undoes the series. I’m not a fan at all how #Yellowstone handled Costner’s departure.&#8221;
A third person went on an expletive-filled rant, writing, &#8220;Waited 2 years for a new episode just to watch 3 minutes and change the channel. F**k you Taylor Sheridan, and f**k you [Kevin Costner] for not settling your differences.&#8221;
A fourth person wrote, &#8220;John Dutton was a fantastic character, and despite the Kevin Costner drama, he deserved a better goodbye than Yellowstone gave him.”
The “Waterworld” star previously told <a href="https://www.gq.com/story/kevin-costner-gq-cover-story">GQ</a> that a scheduling conflict had nothing to do with his departure from the series amid reports that blamed him for halting production on the second half of the season due to filming for his western movie “Horizon: An American Saga-Chapter 1,” followed by the writers’ and actors’ strikes, as previously <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/news/yellowstone-fans-get-major-update-about-series-return">reported</a>.
Costner said he offered options for killing off his character so he could make both work, saying, “‘Well, if you want to kill me, if you want to do something like that,’ I said, ‘I have a week before I start. I’ll do what you want to do.’”
The “Dances with Wolves” star said despite everything that has happened, he was open to returning to the series, <a href="https://deadline.com/2024/05/yellowstone-season-5-part-2-release-date-cast-1235924863/?taid=664c12b263b61f0001608d43">Deadline</a> noted.
Paramount later released a statement to <a href="https://www.foxnews.com/entertainment/yellowstone-star-kevin-costner-offered-to-be-killed-off-hit-show-ill-do-what-you-want-to-do">Fox News</a> about Costner’s GQ comments and said, “Kevin has been a big part of ‘Yellowstone’s’ success,” while wishing him the best.
Related: <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/news/kevin-costner-talks-killing-off-yellowstone-character-as-season-5-production-finally-gets-underway" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Kevin Costner Talks Killing Off ‘Yellowstone’ Character As Season 5 Production Finally Gets Underway</a>

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