Following months of rumors of behind-the-scenes drama, Kevin Costner’s shocking exit from Yellowstone has opened the door to countless possibilities for the series’ continuation. As the central character in the series, his departure will impact almost every major character and significant plot line in some way. Given the show’s dramatic nature, it seems likely that John Dutton’s end will be definitive–a (probably violent) death, as opposed to riding off into the sunset.
A Matthew McConaughey led Yellowstone spin-off is officially in the works, and it appears likely that it will be a continuation of the story of the present-day Duttons unlike the already-existing prequels. If that series does continue to chronicle the lives of the Dutton family and those closest to them, there are a number of major plot lines that it could pick up. Here are ten sequel stories that could happen after Kevin Costner’s departure at the end of Yellowstone season 5.
10/10
Rip Takes Over Yellowstone Ranch In The Sequel Series
If John Dutton’s story comes to an end suddenly, the Yellowstone ranch will need someone to oversee it. This is unlikely to be Beth of Kayce, given Beth wants nothing to do with the ranch and Kayce has spent most of the series trying to keep his family away from the danger that surrounds it. As such, it stands to reason that John’s son-in-law Rip Wheeler will be the next ranch owner.
As Beth’s husband, Rip has a legitimate claim to the ranch, which makes him a clear candidate going forward. Similarly, the letter that John wrote giving Rip his own house on the ranch made it clear that John thinks of Rip like a son. The sequel series could cover how Rip deals with the many problems that come with running the massive ranch, and continue on some of the minor stories with the cowboys as well.
9/10
Matthew McConaughey Appears As A Long-Lost Dutton
Almost nothing is known about Matthew McConaughey’s role in the upcoming Yellowstone spin-off he will star in. However, with such a well-established universe and beloved set of characters, it makes sense that his character would continue to interact with the Dutton family and their associates. With John Dutton out of the picture, McConaughey could appear as a long-lost Dutton who could continue John’s fight to keep the Yellowstone ranch intact.
This would be especially effective in that it would also echo the set-up of the 1923 prequel. There, Harrison Ford’s Jacob Dutton steps in as the patriarch of the Dutton family in place of his younger brother James (Tim McGraw), setting a precedent for someone to do the same in the main series. Making McConaughey a relative of John’s would give him an incentive to keep the fight going, and provide a way to continue the major plots that are already in motion on the show.
8/10
Jamie Dutton Becomes Governor Of Montana After Yellowstone
With Kevin Costner on the way out, it seems likely that the impeachment Jamie Dutton is seeking in Yellowstone season 5 may in fact come to pass. As Dawn Olivieri’s Sarah Atwood continues to sink her claws in Jamie, he will almost certainly seek to step in as Montana’s governor. The sequel series could follow the oft-conflicted adopted Dutton as he maneuvers his way towards the highest office in the state – most importantly in the role he plays as either an ally or enemy of the Dutton siblings, and the Yellowstone ranch itself.
7/10
The Duttons Lose The Ranch In Yellowstone’s Sequel Series
Without the ruthless and powerful John Dutton alive to guard it, the future of the Yellowstone ranch looks bleak at first glance. Beth has admitted on multiple occasions that her loyalty is exclusively to her father, and that she would gladly get rid of the ranch as soon as he was not around to stop her. Rip would be torn between his love for his wife and his love for the ranch, and it seems unlikely that she would choose to keep the ranch simply for Rip’s benefit.
Kayce is on a path leading away from the ranch and towards a better future for his own family, so expecting him to suddenly take up the fight seems unlikely. Jamie’s influence will grow as John’s dwindles, and in his bid for governor he would be glad to sacrifice the ranch for the benefit of the state – or more specifically his own position within its hierarchy. Given the series’ current trajectory, it will take a significant effort to keep the ranch alive.
6/10
A Revenge Story After John’s Yellowstone Season 5 Death
It seems extremely likely that John Dutton will meet a violent end given the level of violence that has befallen the Dutton family to this point in Yellowstone. He has no shortage of enemies, and whether he dies at the hands of a Market Equities assassin or as collateral damage in the feud between Jamie and Beth, his death will need to be avenged. All of his children – including Rip – have the temperament and the drive to ensure that their father’s killer meets a similar fate. Their discovery and pursuit of the killer would make for excellent television, and could even take on a more significant scope if his death results in the loss of the ranch as well.
5/10
Beth and Jamie Dutton Finally End Their Feud
In Yellowstone season 5’s midseason finale, Beth and Jamie seemed to take their feud to the breaking point, with Jamie even asking Sarah Atwood how he would go about putting a hit out on her. Given how deep-seated their conflict is, it seems nearly impossible that they would resolve their differences peacefully. The one factor that could possibly result in a truce would be their father’s death, and their shared desire to see him avenged. The more likely outcome at this point is one of them dying at the hands of the other – either way, their feud has likely run its course after five seasons and nearly 30 years in-universe.
4/10
Kayce’s Special Investigator Work On The Broken Rock Reservation
Yellowstone’s wild card character has always been Kayce. He has been torn between wanting to keep his own family safe and wanting to stay loyal to his father, and as the series currently stands he is moving back to the Broken Rock Reservation, with a job as a Special Investigator on the table. Some of the best Kayce scenes involve his work fighting crime of various kinds, often calling upon his special forces training to keep the innocent safe – and usually kill those who cause harm. Seeing this play out on the reservation would be highly entertaining, and would be a good way to even set up a Kayce-specific spin-off.
3/10
Monica’s Crusade For Women’s Safety On The Reservation
The most gripping scene in Yellowstone involving Kelsey Asbille’s Monica Dutton is when she takes up Chairman Rainwater’s offer to help the women of the reservation, resulting in her ensnaring a serial killer who has terrorized them. With her and Kayce moving to the reservation full-time, she could continue this work in earnest. While it likely won’t be as dramatic and violent as the incident shown in season 3, there is plenty of intrigue in how she and Kayce can help the people of Broken Rock – and it can also shine a light on some of the real issues facing Native American reservations across the country.
2/10
Thomas Rainwater Loses His Seat as Chairman
Almost none of the promises that Thomas Rainwater made his people when he became chairman of the Broken Rock Reservation have come to pass. Because of that, he is currently battling to hold onto his position of power. As of the Yellowstone season 5 midseason finale, an angry and determined Angela Blue Thunder was working to supplant Rainwater with the young and ambitious Martin Kills Many.
Rainwater’s grip on his seat will likely be made even more tenuous with the U.S. Government looking to place a pipeline underneath the Broken Rock reservoir – something he will almost certainly be blamed for. In whatever form the series continues, it will need to address Rainwater potentially losing his office. If he does, the series will also need to show how he continues to fight against the pipeline and to expand the reservation’s land.
1/10
The Yellowstone Sequel Series Makes The Ranch Profitable (Thanks To Beth)
While the enemies trying to take the ranch are the primary focus for the Duttons, the biggest internal problem is that the Yellowstone ranch makes no money. Ranching cattle has historically drained money as opposed to making it, and the problem was made worse in season 5 with the outbreak of brucellosis on the ranch. Business-savvy Beth has already been looking for ways to make the ranch profitable by hosting events. Indeed, she may have discovered a way to make even more money by selling beef off the ranch.
Beth has always faced issues with modernizing the ranch due to John pumping the brakes because of his desire to see the ranch remain unchanged. If the ranch is to continue on, Beth making it profitable will be a vital plot point that the show needs to address. Fortunately, Yellowstone season 5 can pave the way to a future that continues to explore all of these narrative threads.