Update: Paramount has officially confirmed Yellowstone will end with season 5 following Kevin Costner's exit. A Yellowstone sequel show has also been ordered by the network.

With the news that Kevin Costner would be leaving Yellowstone following the conclusion of Season 5, the future of the ever-expanding universe is suddenly full of possibilities. Rumors have swirled of on-set drama between the star and creator Taylor Sheridan for months. While there is little in the way of confirmed details, it is clear that the neo-Western drama will need to carry on without the Dutton patriarch if it is to continue. Season 5 stands amid a hiatus, with fans awaiting the second half of the season, which has not begun filming yet.

While Costner's John Dutton is the central figure in Yellowstone, it chronicles the entire Dutton family and their friends and enemies, which means there are plenty of ways to move the plot forward without him. The show could continue to follow the Dutton siblings in their battle for the ranch and the state of Montana, or it could continue to set up spinoffs in the same universe based around the celebrated characters at the heart of Yellowstone. No matter how the Emmy-nominated franchise moves forward, the departure of Kevin Costner will have a significant impact, given how many doors it opens.

10 Yellowstone Season 6 Could Kill Off John Dutton

If the first four and a half seasons of Yellowstone made anything clear, it's that John Dutton would rather die than leave his ranch. That seems like the most likely outcome for the character when Kevin Costner leaves the show — it makes the most sense for him to lose his life fighting for the thing he's spent his life protecting. It would make no narrative sense for John Dutton to ride off into the proverbial sunset, as he has nothing except for his children and the ranch, which he intends to pass down to them just as generations of Duttons have before him have done. How the characters deal with his death (or perhaps murder) would be a central plot line of Season 6 and the overall future of the show.

9 Yellowstone Season 6 Will Need a New Governor

The mid-season finale of Season 5 saw Wes Bentley's Jamie Dutton pushing for his father's impeachment due to what he believes is his negligence in the office of governor. However, whether John Dutton is killed or impeached, Montana will likely need a new governor in Season 6. Dawn Olivieri's diabolical consultant Sarah Atwood has already begun to push Jamie towards usurping his father as governor for her own motivations. Giving him the power of the governor's office would represent the Yellowstone ranch's greatest threat yet. But chances are good that he won't have an easy path to the office.

8 Gloves Are Off In The Dutton Sibling Civil War

With her father out of the picture, nothing will stop Kelly Reilly's Beth Dutton from going full scorched Earth on her brother Jamie in the war that she declared on him. In the mid-season finale, Jamie was already preparing for her to make an attempt on his life while simultaneously exploring his options if he "wants to play offense instead of defense." The decades-old conflict that has come to physical violence on multiple occasions will be ratcheted up without John to hold Beth back, and casualties seem likely. Luke Grimes' Kayce Dutton could be the neutral party necessary to keep the two siblings from destroying each other — and the Yellowstone ranch in the process.

7 Other Yellowstone Characters Will Take Over The Ranch

With John no longer in charge of the ranch's operations, someone will need to take over to keep things running. Beth has no interest in ranching, and Kayce wants to move his family away from the ranch and all the conflict surrounding it, leaving one natural choice. John Dutton's son-in-law Rip Wheeler not only has a legal claim to the ranch thanks to his marriage to Beth, but he may also be the one person on Earth who loves the ranch as much as John. Rip has said that he would die on the ranch, and given that it is all he has, it makes sense that he would become its new owner. With Lloyd at his right hand and Carter in place as his own desperately loyal protégé, the Yellowstone ranch could continue as it has for more than a century under Rip's leadership — which was what John always wanted.

6 There Is Nothing Keeping The Branded Cowboys On The Ranch

The brand that criminals-turned-cowboys for the Yellowstone ranch wear on their chest guarantees them a home on the ranch as long as the ranch exists. However, it also means they are bound to work for and protect the ranch and its secrets. If John were to be killed, does that binding vow exist? It would likely depend on the man or woman. Rip and Lloyd have spent their lives on the ranch and would likely remain loyal whether John was there or not. However, some newer cowboys would no longer have a firm reason to stay. Walker has already left once, and given the opportunity, it seems likely he'd move on again. Would Colby and Teeter stay to ranch for whoever is in charge next, or would they leave together to forge a new path? Ryan could finally chase Abby and begin a relationship in earnest. It remains to be seen if the loyalty associated with the brand survives the death of John Dutton.

5 Summer Higgins Will Have No Reason To Stay In Montana

Piper Perabo's passionate environmentalist Summer Higgins was stuck on the Yellowstone ranch at the mid-point of Season 5, serving the rest of her commuted prison sentence under house arrest as John's "environmental advisor," among other things. Summer finally began to understand the beauty of ranching, but with John out of the picture, there will be nothing keeping her in Montana. It may be a foregone conclusion that she'll be stuck in the ranch house with Beth and Rip until her sentence is finished (which will be its own odyssey for all characters involved), but after that, her character will have no reason to stay in Montana. She is one of the few characters in the show whose plot line is directly connected to John, and if he is gone, it likely means the end of her character's involvement.

4 More Yellowstone Characters May Be Pushed Towards The '6666' Spinoff

The Four Sixes ranch in Texas has been established in-universe (and in reality) as one of the most elite cowboy ranches in the country. With fan-favorite character Jimmy Hurdstrom happily living in Texas and working on the ranch, the Yellowstone spinoff 6666 already has one major through-line from the original show. In the mid-season finale, viewers saw Rip, Jake, Ryan, Teeter and Walker all head to Texas with much of the ranch's herd to escape an outbreak of brucellosis. But, as Rip informed Beth, they could be gone for a year or more, and if that's the case, there is plenty of time and reason for those five to run into the characters of 6666. Beth also promised to visit Rip regularly, so don't be shocked if she makes an appearance or two on the show as well.

3 Major Yellowstone Cast Members Could Head For Matthew McConaughey's Spinoff

With rumblings that drama with Kevin Costner has disgruntled creator Tyler Sheridan and the other Yellowstone co-stars, Matthew McConaughey's untitled spinoff could poach some significant names from the original show. While it would certainly not be as simple as replacing Costner with McConaughey and continuing as usual, if most of the central cast were to join McConaughey in one show, Paramount likely wouldn't lose much momentum. This is especially true given the success of the Yellowstone prequels. Of course, it seems unlikely that the entire cast would hop to the spinoff, but even Beth and Rip becoming involved with McConaughey's character would bring a lot of eyes straight over from the original.

2 A Kayce And Monica Spinoff Now Makes Sense

His love and conflicted loyalty to his father are all that have kept Kayce involved with the Yellowstone ranch. On multiple occasions, whether of his own accord or at Monica's behest, Kayce has moved his family away from the drama and danger surrounding those who fight to take the ranch and those who protect it. If John Dutton is no longer alive, Kayce will have little reason to stay involved with the ranch or his siblings' squabbles. As implied in Season 5, Kayce could be a special investigator for the Broken Rock Reservation and put his skills as a soldier to use protecting the vulnerable — which could afford both him and Monica the peace of mind they are looking for. There is plenty of conflict to resolve with the people of Broken Rock, and Kayce, Monica and Tate could play key roles in how the reservation moves forward.

1 Thomas Rainwater Could Lead A Broken Rock Reservation Spinoff

Gil Birmingham's Thomas Rainwater is one of the most intriguing characters in Yellowstone, given the complexity of his role. He is often at odds with the Duttons due to his desire to return the ranch's land to his people. Given that noble overall goal, it's difficult to consider him an antagonist in the series. The first half of Season 5 did a lot to set up a Broken Rock spinoff with Rainwater at its center. There are threats from without (the incoming pipeline that will go under the reservation's water reservoir) and within (Angela Blue Thunder's support of Martin Kills Many in usurping Rainwater as Tribal Chairman). As previously mentioned, it would be perfectly natural to tie Kayce and Monica Dutton into a show focused on the reservation. Ultimately, the premise would remain loyal to Yellowstone's original concept — a man fights against developers and other villains to protect his land and his place on it.