Luke Grimes says he hasn't spoken to Kevin Costner since 'Yellowstone'

Luke Grimes stated in a USA Today interview that he has not spoken to Kevin Costner since the two actors stopped working together on the Taylor Sheridan series "Yellowstone." Grimes attributed the lack of communication to professional demands rather than personal conflict, noting that both men are busy and life moves on. The comment addresses the status of their relationship following Costner's departure from the show in 2024.

During the interview, Grimes was asked if Costner would make an appearance on "Marshals," the spinoff series in which Grimes continues to star. He dismissed the possibility, stating he doubts it would ever happen. While Grimes admitted it would be cool if Costner joined, he suggested that a flashback sequence featuring Monica, played by Kelsey Asbille, would be more poignant for the character of Kayce Dutton than one with John Dutton. Grimes added that the final decision remains to be seen.

Grimes and Costner starred together for four seasons of "Yellowstone." Costner portrayed John Dutton, the patriarch of the Dutton family and owner of the Yellowstone Ranch, which the source describes as one of the largest cattle operations in the country. In contrast, Grimes took on the role of Kayce Dutton, John's youngest son who served as a Navy SEAL before returning to the family. The character arc for Kayce centered on his conflict between his family's ranching legacy and his life with his wife, Monica, and their son, Tate.

Following his exit from "Yellowstone," Grimes transitioned to "Marshals," where Kayce leaves the ranch to join an elite unit of U.S. Marshals in Montana. Costner's departure from the original series followed a long-running scheduling dispute. Production delays for "Yellowstone" collided with Costner's work on "Horizon: An American Saga." Costner stated he had prioritized the series and disputed claims that he left solely to focus on his films. He pointed to production delays and a lack of scripts for the second half of season five as factors in his decision.

In June, Taylor Sheridan appeared as a guest on "The Bill Simmons Podcast." Sheridan stated that Costner had originally agreed to appear as John Dutton for only three seasons of "Yellowstone." According to Sheridan, Costner was ready to move on after that period but decided to stay because the show became a major hit.