'Yellowstone': The Biggest Character Deaths (and Exits) So Far

etonline.com:

has gone through quite a revolving door of cast exits — and character deaths — over the years.The biggest one, of course, is the impending departure of Kevin Costner, who has played patriarch John Dutton III since the series' 2018 launch.

ET broke the news earlier this week that Costner would not be returning to the popular drama after season 5 amid alleged tension with co-creator Taylor Sheridan over filming commitments for the remaining episodes of the season.While details remain unclear on how Costner's exit will be incorporated into , there continues to be uncertainty over when filming will resume in Montana to finish out season 5, which was originally slated for a summer return on Paramount Network.The update on Costner's involvement comes months after it was first reported that the series may be ending in its current form.

Since then, a spinoff series with Matthew McConaughey, which is being considered an extension of the franchise, officially received the green light to move forward.Even as fans (and cast) await answers about the fate of the drama, the characters who exist in the world aren't strangers to shocking betrayals, revenge, murder and death.

ET highlights eight of the most shocking ones from the series so far.Sources close to  production told ET that Costner would not be returning to the series after the fifth season following reports of alleged drama with series co-creator Taylor Sheridan over the actor's filming commitments for the second half of the season.