### Kevin Costner Responds to John Dutton's Fate on 'Yellowstone'

Kevin Costner recently opened up about the on-screen demise of his character, John Dutton, in the popular series "Yellowstone." Although his character met a dramatic end in the Season 5 Part 2 premiere, which aired on November 10 on Paramount Network, Costner confessed that he has yet to watch the episode. Costner revealed his feelings during his appearance on The Michael Smerconish Program on SiriusXM on November 11.

Costner admitted he wasn't even aware the episode had aired until after the fact. "I had no idea it was actually airing last night. I swear to God," he said, indicating that his current focus has been on other professional commitments. He learned about the episode's broadcast only the following morning when someone informed him.

John Dutton's character was killed by hitmen hired by Sarah Atwood, portrayed by Dawn Olivieri, and the incident was staged to appear as a suicide. Jamie, played by Wes Bentley, was unaware of Sarah's lethal plan, believing he was uninvolved. However, Kelly Reilly's character, Beth, is unlikely to perceive Jamie's innocence.

Costner expressed that knowing how John Dutton met his end makes him hesitant to watch the episode. "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 commented. Michael Smerconish noted John Dutton didn't seem like someone who would commit suicide, to which Costner responded, "Maybe it's a red herring. Who knows? They're very good. And they'll figure that out."

Furthermore, Costner clarified why he didn't leave "Yellowstone" voluntarily, attributing his departure to scheduling conflicts. He emphasized that he had tried to balance shooting for "Yellowstone" and his upcoming "Horizon" films, but the series' unpredictable schedule ultimately made it impossible. He stressed that his exit wasn't by choice but due to the difficulties in coordinating the schedules.

In recent months, Costner has indicated an interest in making a comeback to the series. However, with John Dutton's death and the finale's filming already completed, a return seems increasingly unlikely. Despite this, Costner's confirmation about not watching the pivotal episode and his candid thoughts about his departure shed light on his continued connection with the show.