Kevin Costner Not running Yellowstone anymore, but it is He still has some ideas About the direction the show took for his character, John Dutton, after his exit.
Oscar winner He confirmed his departure from the Paramount Network drama in June 2024 after months of speculation about whether he would appear in the final episodes of season five.
“After such a long year and a half of work Horizon And do all the things required and think about them Yellowstone“This beloved series that I love and I know you love,” Costner began in a video circulating on social media at the time. “I've just realized that I won't be able to continue Season 5B or into the future. It was something that really changed me. I loved it. And I know you loved it. I just wanted to let you know that I won't be coming back. I love the relationship we were able to develop, and I'll see you in the movies.”
Rumors about Costner's departure began in early 2023 after the conclusion of Season 5A. Reports circulated that Costner had a falling out with him Yellowstone Co-creator Taylor Sheridan On the timing of the production, which overlapped with Costner's four-part filming Horizon Movie saga. The duo denied any bad blood, but Sheridan later said so was “frustrated” that Costner was not interested in continuing the show.
While Sheridan said in June 2023 that he doesn't do “f–you car crashes” in his writing, he still kills John Dutton in the Season 5 premiere, though not in a car crash. In the November 10, 2024 episode, fans immediately learned that John had been killed by a hitman hired by Sarah Atwood (Dawn Olivieri). The killer staged the scene to make it look like a suicide, but Beth (Kelly Reilly) and Casey (Luke Grimes) They immediately suspected that all was not as it seemed.
Meanwhile, Costner claims he has not watched the episode, but has shared his thoughts on it since it aired. Keep scrolling for everything he had to say about John's death:
Not that interesting
The day after the Season 5 premiere, Costner said he was unaware that the first episode without him had finally premiered. “I'll be completely honest. I didn't know it actually aired last night,” he said during a November 11, 2024, interview on SiriusXM. Michael Smerconish Program. “It's the moment I swear to God. I was seeing ads with my face everywhere and thinking, 'Oh my God, I'm not in that ad.' But I didn't realize that yesterday was the thing.”
He pointed out that he did not watch the episode, but he heard what happened, and he joked: “I heard it was a suicide, so it doesn’t make me want to rush to go watch it.”
Praise for the book
In the same interview, Costner praised the film Yellowstone team for always making good stories – and he hinted that he knew John's “suicide” might not be what it seemed. “They are very smart people,” he said. “Maybe it's a red herring. Who knows? They're very good. They'll figure it out.”
Kudos to the fans
During the airing of the second episode of Season 5B, Costner shared his thoughts on the fan backlash to John's fate. “The masses have a voice in things, and they choose to follow things.” He said and! news On November 17, 2024.
The actor went on to say that he conveyed John's death to Sheridan “a while ago” but that he has no interest in what happens now. “They do what they want to do,” he added. “That's fine with me.”
No ideas
During an interview conducted on November 17, 2024 with Entertainment tonightCostner confirmed that he had not yet watched the episode in which John died. “I haven't watched it, so I don't have any thoughts about it,” he joked.
Let her go
Costner doubled down on his lack of feelings for him Yellowstone It's coming to an end.
“I don't think about 'the eventual end of Yellowstone,' and I don't think I have thought about it,” he said in a video obtained by Yellowstone. Daily Mail On December 18. “We'll leave it aside.”