Why Kevin Costner isn’t in a ‘rush’ to see his final ‘Yellowstone’ episode

This article contains ‘Yellowstone’ season 5B spoilers

Kevin Costner won’t be watching his final “Yellowstone” episode anytime soon after his character was killed from the Western series.

The actor addressed the death of his character John Dutton during Sunday’s Season 5B premiere, while chatting on SiriusXM’s “The Michael Smerconish Program.”

“I haven’t seen it,” he admitted. “I heard it’s suicide, so that doesn’t make me want to rush to see it.”

Host Michael Smerconish told the 69-year-old Costner that his character wasn’t the “suicide type,” to which the “Dances With Wolves” star 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.”

Dutton’s death was initially thought to be a suicide, but the episode flashed back six weeks to reveal that he was murdered by a hit man, orchestrated by his son Jamie Dutton’s girlfriend, Sarah Atwood.

The ‘Bodyguard’ star explained to Smerconish that he didn’t know part two of the season aired last night because he hasn’t been following the show’s production since it was announced he wouldn’t be returning.

“That’s a moment when you have to swear to God,” he continued. “I mean, I see ads with my face everywhere and I think, ‘Gosh, that’s not me.'”

Costner doubled down on rumors that he had left the show, saying, “I didn’t leave. I haven’t quit the show.”

He explained that the issue had to do with scheduling and contract issues, as he was also working on the four-part series “Horizon: An American Saga.”

“There were holes out there,” Costner said. “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.”

“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.

Although Costner kept the details vague, he claimed to have fulfilled the ever-changing request of the crew of the “Yellowstone” twice, but on the third request he could not do so because “300 people were waiting for him.”

“I couldn’t help them anymore,” he continued. “Everyone must deliver on what he or she says they are going to do. And it doesn’t matter what business you’re in.”

Despite Costner’s character being found dead of a gunshot wound at the start of Sunday night’s episode, a body double was used to portray the Oscar winner, and his face was hidden.

In February 2023, rumors say Costner would not return to film the remainder of season 5 then fueled Deadline reported that he and the show’s co-creator Taylor Sheridan had had a falling out over scheduling.

The outlet reported that the two struggled to agree on a filming schedule, with Costner reportedly wanting to film the second round of episodes in a week.

However, a Paramount representative denied the rumors at the time. against The Post “Costner (was) a big part of ‘Yellowstone.'”

In May 2023, an insider gets close to production told “Entertainment Tonight” that Costner would not officially return to the set.

Costner confirmed the news via Instagram in June he said the decision came after a “long and a half year” of work on his 2024 western drama, “Horizon.”

At the time he was also suffering from one much-discussed divorce with ex-wife Christine Baumgartner, whom he married in 2004.

“Yellowstone” airs Sundays at 8pm ET on Paramount Network.