Yellowstone's Finale May Prove the Craziest Dutton Death Theory Right

Summary

• Fans suggest a dropped season 1 plot may prove John’s downfall.
• The crazy part.
• More to this storyline than meets the eye.

Few things are more popular among TV fans than a good old-fashioned rumor mill. And sure enough, as it looks increasingly likely that we've seen the last of Kevin Costner in Yellowstone, fans of the show haven’t disappointed.

Will a dropped season 1 plot finally finish off John Dutton III?

Will a dropped Season 1 plot finally finish off John Dutton III?

One fan theory currently doing the rounds is that Kevin Costner's character will succumb to the cancer he was first diagnosed with in Season 1.

Fans of the show may remember that John Dutton underwent a small procedure to get rid of colon cancer. It was an illness that threatened to rear its ugly head early in Season 2. But that storyline faded almost as soon as it appeared, and the story moved on.

Now, with Kevin Costner's exit confirmed, some are suggesting that a recurrence of that illness might be the easiest way to write John Dutton III out of the show without the actor having to set foot on the ranch again.

It's a story that could easily play out off-screen. And it would give Taylor Sheridan a simple way to be shot of a man with whom he has fallen out with big style over what are being termed creative differences.

What makes this idea so crazy?

As is their wont, fans like to think a little more creatively than straightforward storylines, such as a main character dying off-screen because the actor playing him isn't on set.

So while some have suggested that John simply ride off into the sunset (easily done with the use of a double), others think that John should have a final showdown while fighting for the ranch. There is even a theory that he could ask Rip to kill him. Not only would this make for great TV, but it would also be in character for John, who would not want to be gradually weakened by illness before finally dying.

There's only one problem with this theory; it's kind of hard to pull off without Kevin Costner on set.

What’s the real reason behind the split and can it be fixed?

We don't know, and we almost certainly won't. There is no doubt that the fallout is huge. But exactly how it came about is not clear, as both sides have different versions of events.

Taylor Sheridan claims Costner walked away to focus on his new Horizon franchise, while the actor says the network refused to be flexible and allow him to be involved in both projects.

We may never get to the bottom of what actually went wrong between the two. But the likelihood of any kind of reconciliation is getting slimmer by the day. With the start of filming just months away, time is running out for them to get back on the same page.

Even if they do find a way to put aside their differences and agree to film an ending, the opportunity to include something that feels authentically part of the final block of episodes may have already passed.

Could this crazy fan theory come true?

At this point, it's too early to rule anything out. Taylor Sheridan and Kevin Costner have one big thing in common - massive egos. Both can be stubborn. But neither man is a fool.

As things stand, the show's reputation is on the line. It could even be argued that their public spat has damaged Kevin Costner's reputation. If both see potential in a reunion that gives the fans what they want and protects their status without losing face... well, let's just say stranger things have happened.