Kevin Costner responds to 'Yellowstone' John Dutton being written off in Season 5, Part 2

• Kevin Costner did not return for Yellowstone season five, part two.
• The actor said he “didn't leave the show” but left due to scheduling conflicts.
• He said he still hadn't actually seen John Dutton being axed from the series.

Warning: Spoilers for “Yellowstone” season five, episode nine.

Kevin Costner was as surprised as you were by John Dutton's Yellowstone write-off.

The actor spoke on SiriusXM's “The Michael Smerconish Program” about the circumstances of his exit from the show and his reaction to Dutton's exit. Costner spoke to Smerconish the day after the fifth season premiere, part two of Yellowstone – and revealed he didn't even know the episode was set to air.

The behind-the-scenes drama of “Yellowstone” has garnered as much attention as its on-screen action. After reports began circulating in early 2023 that Costner might be leaving the series – or at least that his filming time for the fifth season, part two – could be shortened – Paramount announced in May 2023 that the fifth season of the series would be its last (although it is still unclear whether this is actually the case). Costner confirmed in court documents in June 2023 that he was no longer under contract to the series in connection with his divorce from Christine Baumgartner.

On Monday, Costner told Smerconish that his departure from “Yellowstone” was due to scheduling conflicts. The actor has been working on his “Horizon” film series, which debuted in May to lukewarm reviews.

“I didn’t leave the show,” he said. “There wasn’t, there was just a, you know, everyone has to stick to what they say.”

Yellowstone responded to Costner's departure by killing off his character John Dutton off-screen in season five, episode nine. While it initially appears that he died by suicide, the series reveals that his death was the result of an attack.

Costner told Smerconish that he had not realized Dutton's death was being broadcast the night before and that he had not yet seen the episode.

“I heard it was a suicide, so I don't want to rush to see it,” Costner said. However, he said the death may have been a “red herring.”

The actor also said he suggested several endings for his character over the course of “Yellowstone,” and told Smerconish he wasn't sure if he would stick around until the fifth season. Dutton's eventual end to the show was not one of these possibilities, but Costner expressed confidence in the show's direction.

“Whatever they do, they’ll figure it out,” he said. “But yeah, I had thought of two possible endings when it wouldn't take so long.”

In case you missed the premiere, here How to stream “Yellowstone” Season 5, Part 2.