Kevin Costner’s Departure Shocks ‘Yellowstone’ Fans

Last Sunday marked the premiere of the much-anticipated new season of «Yellowstone» on Paramount Network, revealing the fate of Kevin Costner‘s pivotal character, John Dutton. Premiered with an episode termed as a dramatic turn of events, viewers were left in suspense over what seemed to be a startling moment for the Dutton family.

The episode opened with emergency personnel arriving at the mansion of Governor John Dutton, as his daughter Beth Dutton, played by Kelly Reilly, rushed to the scene. Accompanied by her brother Kayce Dutton, portrayed by Luke Grimes, the siblings forcefully navigated through the police barricades. Inside, they were confronted by the distressing sight of a handgun on the bathroom floor alongside blood, though John Dutton’s face is never shown on camera. The haunting image of his body on the floor and the pained expression on his children’s faces set a somber tone.

In an unexpected twist, Kevin Costner, who has played John Dutton since the show’s debut in 2018, revealed he was unaware of the episode airing. Costner stated, «I didn’t see it. I’m going to be perfectly honest. I didn’t know it was actually airing last night. That’s a swear-to-God moment.» His comments have heightened interest as to how the series will unfold without his presence.

New episodes of «Yellowstone» are scheduled to air on Sunday nights at 8 p.m. ET/PT on Paramount Network. However, the network has announced that episodes will not be available on streaming platforms immediately. For fans eager to catch up, earlier seasons remain accessible through various streaming services.

Kelly Reilly, in an interview, provided some insights into her character Beth Dutton’s arc following the traumatic revelation. «There’s only so much a woman can take. He’s the center of her soul,» Reilly shared, suggesting a turbulent journey ahead for Beth. She added that she has always been aware of the eventual direction of «Yellowstone,» noting, «It wasn’t supposed to happen so soon, but the fact that we got to return poetically to the show’s authentic vision is satisfying.»

This season of «Yellowstone» is set to unfold over an additional five episodes, leaving viewers eager to witness how the storyline will evolve in the absence of its central character, John Dutton.