‘Yellowstone’: Wes Bentley addresses the possible death of John Dutton

February 16, 2023

“I thought about that in Season 1,” Bentley said of the possible death of patriarch John Dutton, “because that’s always a possibility on TV, right?”

Wes Bentley wouldn’t be surprised if John Dutton doesn’t keep ‘Yellowstone’ alive.

Amid rumors and news that Kevin Costner is expected to part ways with the Paramount Network series, co-star Bentley wondered if Costner’s patriarch John Dutton would meet a bloody end.

“I was thinking about that in Season 1, because there’s always an opportunity on TV, right?” Bentley said TV line. “We’re always ready to die… (And John) really had this hypnotic pull on (my character) Jamie.”

Bentley plays Jamie Dutton, Costner’s John Dutton’s adopted son and nemesis. But if John dies, Bentley said Jamie’s character is “totally lost.”

“Maybe part of him would be frantically trying to take care of the ranch,” Bentley said. “I really think he means what he says. He would feel that burden and maybe panic.”

Bentley continued, “After John ran for governor and became what he said he hated, Jamie began to change his attitude. Maybe John isn’t the tough guy he says he is. Maybe John is out of ideas. Maybe he’s just another guy like the others. It’s a loss of a pedestal. The deity is gone. I think that’s why Jamie decided to try to kill him. (You know) her life would be so much better without him, which is a big change for Jamie.”

“Yellowstone” Season 5, Episode 2 premieres this summer. Also in the works is a new “Yellowstone” spinoff show centered on the present-day Dutton family, with Matthew McConaughey leading the way, and Costner possibly pulling out of the next rodeo.

“Kevin Costner is a big part of ‘Yellowstone,’ and we hope he will be for a long time to come,” a Paramount Network spokesperson said in a statement to IndieWire. “Thanks to the brilliant mind of Taylor Sheridan, we’re constantly working to expand the franchise to this incredible world he’s built. Matthew McConaughey is a phenomenal talent that we would love to work with.”

Deadline reports that the current twist on the “Yellowstone” series reportedly stems from initial disagreements with Costner over the production schedule. It has not yet been announced if other members of the current “Yellowstone” cast, including Bentley, Luke Grimes, Kelly Reilly, Cole Hauser, Kelsey Asbille and Gil Birmingham, will join the spinoff.

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