Kevin Costner, who played John Dutton in Yellowstone, recently shared his thoughts on the series ending after a turbulent departure. In an exclusive video, Costner, 69, revealed that he hasn’t thought much about the show’s finale or his character’s death, stating that he’s ready to “let it go.” When asked about his relationship with co-star Luke Grimes (who plays Casey Dutton), Costner confirmed that they haven’t spoken since his exit. This came after Grimes made comments about how the filming process became easier once Costner left the show.

Grimes had previously mentioned that with Costner’s departure, the drama behind the scenes lessened, making the filming process more seamless for the cast. He also added that the show was always intended to see John Dutton’s death, even though fans were shocked by the sudden and dramatic way he was written out—via a faked suicide. Grimes expressed that while some viewers may have felt “cheated” by the plot twist, it was part of the story’s evolution. He also revealed that Dutton’s death was originally planned much earlier, and viewers ultimately got more of the character than initially intended.

Costner also revealed that when first pitched the role of John Dutton, it was meant to be a one-season arc, but due to the studio’s interest, his role expanded into a more significant part of the series. Costner’s exit was reportedly due to scheduling conflicts with his other project, Horizon, and while the drama surrounding his departure made headlines, Grimes emphasized that these things happen in life, and the show had to move forward without him.

As the Yellowstone finale aired, fans expressed mixed reactions to John Dutton’s shocking death, leading to debates about the series’ handling of his exit.