R.I.P. John Dutton? Yellowstone rumored to be killing off Kevin Costner’s main character similar to how Succession suddenly killed Brian Cox’s Logan Roy… though the show could still continue without him

Just hours after a report claimed Yellowstone will come to a close after the back half of Season 5, a new report contends the show could still continue… though there are reportedly plans to kill off Kevin Costner‘s John Dutton.

The report from Showbiz 411 claims Costner’s Dutton will ‘meet a similar fate’ to that of Brian Cox’s Logan Roy on HBO’s Succession, who was shockingly killed off in the third episode of the show’s final season.

The back half of Season 5 was supposed to debut on the Paramount Network this summer, though scheduling conflicts with Costner, 68, have pushed the show to a likely return sometime this fall.

‘The whole team is down in Texas now meeting, and trying to figure out how to do it. I’m sure Taylor Sheridan has it worked out more or less,’ a source claims, adding, ‘We all knew Kevin would leave eventually.’

While the on-screen death isn’t terribly surprising considering the months of behind-the-scenes drama, the source also claims the show will go on for at least one more season, and won’t be tied to the reported Matthew McConaughey spin-off.

‘I think the main show will go on for at least one more season after, they’ll have to see how it goes. Remember, this isn’t until 2024. A lot can happen,’ the source added.

The source also claimed the McConaughey spin-off will be like the Yellowstone prequel 1923 and be its own series that won’t necessarily have major ties to the flagship series.

Creator Taylor Sheridan still has not indicated when the final episodes for Yellowstone Season 5 will be filmed.

The behind-the-scenes drama with Costner and Sheridan first surfaced in an early-February report from Deadline, which claimed that Costner had originally limited himself to 65 days of shooting on the fifth season.

While he spent 50 days filming the first half, the report claimed he only wanted to spend a week filming the back half, since he was getting ready to star in and direct his multi-part Western epic Horizon for Warner Bros. Pictures, his first directorial effort in 20 years since the 2003 film Open Range.

While Costner himself hasn’t spoken out publicly about the report, his lawyer Marty Singer claimed the report was all a lie.

‘The idea that Kevin was only willing to work one week on the second half of season 5 of Yellowstone is an absolute lie,’ Singer stated.

‘It’s ridiculous — and anyone suggesting it shouldn’t be believed for one second,’ Singer added.

Cole Hauser, who plays cowboy Rip Wheeler on the hit series, indicated in an interview there will be at least two more seasons of Yellowstone.

‘I can tell you there will be 6 and there will be a seventh, that’s all I can say. That’s all I can tell you,’ Hauser hinted, though no renewal plans have been confirmed by Paramount at this time.

Chris McCarthy, the president and CEO of Paramount Media Networks, opened up in a wide-ranging interview in The Hollywood Reporter, where he didn’t offer any specifics but remained hopeful they could retain Costner for more Yellowstone.

‘(Yellowstone) wouldn’t be what it is today without Kevin and we hope that that stays for a long time to come,’ McCarthy said in the interview.

McCarthy’s statement is similar to one Paramount Network issued in early February after the original report.

‘We have no news to report. Kevin Costner is a big part of Yellowstone and we hope that’s the case for a long time to come,’ the statement began.

‘Thanks to the brilliant mind of Taylor Sheridan, we are always working on franchise expansions of this incredible world he has built. Matthew McConaughey is a phenomenal talent with whom we’d love to partner,’ the statement added.

While McCarthy wouldn’t elaborate on Costner’s situation, he did clarify that the project with Matthew McConaughey will still be moving forward regardless of Costner’s return.

McCarthy added that the McConaughey project is one of a whopping 10 projects that Yellowstone creator Taylor Sheridan has in development at the network.