Kevin Costner responds to John Dutton’s death, saying he ‘hasn’t left the show’

(Warning: The following contains MAJOR spoilers for the Yellowstone Premiere season 5, part 2.)

Kevin Costner does not rush to look John Dutton’s death on Yellowstone. Following his leaves the series earlier this year, the Western drama killed off his character in the film Premiere season 5 part 2 which aired on Sunday (November 10). Paramount Network. In a new interview on SiriusXM, Costner revealed his reaction to his character’s death, confirming that he knows what happened but hasn’t seen the episode. He even claims he had no idea the episode aired on Sunday. He also states that he “hasn’t left the show, okay?”, saying that he has signed a contract to film this season and his Horizon movies.

“Well, I’ll be completely honest. I didn’t know it actually aired last night. That is a moment of swearing to God. I swear,” Costner continued Tthe Michael Smerconish program on SiriusXM on Monday, November 11. “I mean, I see ads with my face everywhere and I think, ‘Gosh, that’s not me.’ I’m not there this season But I watched, but I didn’t know that yesterday was the thing I really did, my focus was on what I had to do, and I have to make a few more calls : sometimes I’m just a passenger in my life, you know, there’s a lot going on And someone said, ‘You know it was playing last night?’ And I said, ‘Hmm, okay.’ So no, I found out this morning.”

John was murdered by the hitmen he hired Sarah Atwood (Dawn Olivieri), but the killers made it look like suicide. Jamie (Wes Bentley) didn’t know that Sarah had gone through with this hitman idea that they briefly discussed in the Season 5 Part 1 finale, which aired in January 2023. Although she says he is “protected” from blame, Beth (Kelly Reilly) will see it this way.

Costner said he’s learned how his character died, and the manner of his death makes him less excited to watch it anytime soon.

‘I didn’t see it. I heard it was suicide, so that doesn’t make me want to rush out and see it,” Costner said. When host Michael Smerconish pointed out that his character didn’t seem like a “suicide type,” Costner responded, “Well, they’re pretty smart people.” Maybe it’s a red herring. Who knows? They are very good. And they are going to find out.”

The Oscar winner also shared more details about why he left Yellowstonein which he said he was trying to make filming schedules for both the show and his own Horizon movies work but delays on the Taylor Sheridan series caused problems.

“Yes, I didn’t actually have to leave anything behind. There were holes out there. There were contractual things that allowed both things to be done, but because both things were contractual, you had to make room for the other,” Costner explained. “There was space, but it was difficult for them to stick to their schedule. It seemed like it was just too hard for them to do it. There was a time when whatever happened, you could deal with it.

He emphasized that he did not want to leave Yellowstone.

‘But no one, I didn’t leave. I didn’t quit the show, okay? I had contracted to do all three. A contract was drawn up to do all three. And within a period of about eight months, two more different types of contracts were negotiated. Not at my request, but at their request to try to do things,” Costner said. “I helped them with those extra two things that changed, things change, and when they finally wanted to change it for the third time because I had to do my obligations, there were 300 people waiting for me, I couldn’t help them anymore. I just couldn’t help them. But I haven’t quit the show… Everyone has to deliver on what they say they’re going to do. And it doesn’t matter what business you’re in.”

This isn’t the first time Costner has said that Yellowstone‘s uncertain filming schedule was the cause of his departure. He noted the scheduling issues during a 2023 child support hearing in California and in the time since. The past few months have been he has shown interest in return to the series. That seems less possible now that John has been killed and since the series finale has already been filmed.

YellowstoneSunday, 8/7c, Paramount Network