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Kevin Costner Reacts to ‘Yellowstone’ Character’s Shocking Fate, Had No Idea Final Episodes Were Airing
Spoiler warning: The following story contains spoilers for Yellowstone season 5 episode 9.
Kevin Costner hasn’t yet seen the premiere of Yellowstone season 5b — but after learning about the shocking fate of his character, he’s in no hurry to check it out.
“Well, I’m going to be perfectly honest. I didn’t know it was actually airing last night,” the Dances With Wolves star, 69, said during a live town hall edition of “The Michael Smerconish Program” on SiriusXM on Monday, November 11. “I mean, I’ve been seeing ads with my face all over the place and I’m thinking, ‘Gee, I’m not in that one.’ I’m not in this season.”
Kevin played Dutton family patriarch and newly-appointed governor of Montana John Dutton on Yellowstone through the first half of season 5 before announcing his departure from the Western drama series in June. He revealed on Monday that he had only just learned how the writers chose to write off his character.
“I didn’t see it. I heard it’s a suicide, so that doesn’t make me want to rush to go see it,” he continued.
Michael, 62, pointed out that John didn’t seem to be the “suicide kind of guy.”
“Well, they’re pretty smart people,” Kevin responded. “Maybe it’s a red herring. Who knows? They’re very good. And they’ll figure that out.”
During the premiere of the final episodes of Yellowstone on Sunday, November 10, it was revealed that John was dead after a fatal gunshot wound in the bathroom of his mansion. Though his son, attorney general Jamie Dutton, announced in a press conference that his father had died by suicide, he received a suspicious phone call where someone seemed to signal via code that a hit on John had been successful. John’s other family members also had trouble wrapping their heads around the idea of him committing suicide. It seems likely that his death will be a larger mystery throughout the remaining episodes.
Days before the premiere aired, Christina Voros, who directed four out of the six episodes in season 5b, teased that even though Kevin’s character is no longer on the screen, he will still be a huge part of Yellowstone’s closing story.
“[John Dutton’s] presence is integral. I think to say any more than that would potentially compromise all the work that went into redacting the scripts,” she told The Hollywood Reporter on November 5. “But I think the reason people are wondering, ‘Is he, isn’t he? Where is he, where is he not?’ is because he is the patriarch and his presence is an essential component to the story. John Dutton is still central.”
Kevin confirmed his exit from Yellowstone via an Instagram video on June 20 after several months of playing coy about his involvement in the final episodes.
“Hi everyone. I just want to reach out and let you know that after this long year and a half of working on [his Horizon film series] and doing all the things that that’s required, and thinking about Yellowstone — that beloved series that I love, that I know you love – I just realize that I’m not going to be able to continue season 5b or into the future,” he said.
The actor continued, “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 returning. I love the relationship we’ve been able to develop, and I’ll see you at the movies.”
Kevin’s departure came after alleged disagreements over scheduling with Yellowstone creator Taylor Sheridan. However, the Horizon star said on Monday that he “didn’t quit the show.”
“There were the gaps that were there. There was contractual things that would allow for both things to be done, but because both things were contractual, you had to make room for the other thing. There was room, but it was difficult for them to keep their schedule. It seemed to be, it was just too difficult for them to do it,” he explained.
Kevin later added, “I accommodated them on those extra two things that changed, things change, and finally when they wanted to change it a third time, because I had my obligations to do, I had 300 people waiting for me, I couldn’t help them anymore. I just simply couldn’t help them. But I didn’t quit the show. There was no … everybody has to live up to what they say they’re going to do. And it doesn’t matter what business you’re in.”
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