‘Yellowstone’ Star Kevin Costner Not in a ‘Rush’ To See Character’s Exit

Kevin Costner recently addressed the ongoing controversy surrounding his departure from Yellowstone, clarifying that he did not quit the show. On The Michael Smerconish Program, Costner explained that the issues revolved around scheduling conflicts, particularly with his other commitments, such as his film series Horizon: An American Saga. He mentioned that while there were contractual gaps, it became challenging for the show to maintain its schedule due to his conflicting obligations.

Costner also revealed that he wasn’t aware of the specific details surrounding his character’s exit. He had come up with possible endings for his character earlier but didn’t know how the producers would ultimately handle his departure. He admitted he didn’t watch the Yellowstone episode where his character, John Dutton, seemingly dies, and learned about it only the next morning. The death, appearing to be a suicide, has sparked confusion and debate among fans.

His co-star, Luke Grimes, who plays his son Kayce Dutton, expressed surprise at Costner’s departure, noting that the cast was not informed in advance about how or when it would happen. Grimes shared that it was disappointing not to have a proper farewell for Costner, especially given the unexpected nature of his exit. Despite the surprise, Grimes emphasized that the cast’s job was to perform the material given to them.