Luke Grimes Breaks Silence on Kevin Costner’s Yellowstone Exit: “It Was Just Another Hump to Get Over”
As Yellowstone fans continue to process the show’s explosive final season, star Luke Grimes has opened up about Kevin Costner’s controversial departure — and why the cast viewed it as just another challenge in a series filled with them.
A Show Built on Turbulence
Speaking to Holler, Grimes — who played Kayce Dutton, the conflicted heir to the Dutton ranch — reflected on the many hurdles the cast and crew faced over the show’s five-season run. From pandemic delays to industry strikes, the road to the finale was far from smooth.
“It’s one of the most fulfilling things I’ve ever done, playing Kayce,” Grimes said. “But it’s been a challenge every single year. It feels like every year there’s been something pushing against us — whether it was COVID, or the strikes. It’s been a challenge to do every season for some huge reason.”
Then came the biggest obstacle of all: Kevin Costner’s exit.
“Just Another Hump to Get Over”
While fans were stunned by Costner’s abrupt departure amid reports of behind-the-scenes tension with creator Taylor Sheridan, Grimes revealed that the cast treated it as another setback they simply had to overcome.
“This season, it felt like it was just another challenge — but we were able to do it,” Grimes explained. “It’s a miracle that the show was able to stay the course through all of that. [Kevin Costner] leaving was just another hump to get over.”
Despite the turmoil, Grimes praised Sheridan for how he wrapped up the Dutton family saga. “I think Taylor wrote it beautifully, and we executed it. I think the fans will be very, very happy with the ending.”
A Divisive Farewell for John Dutton
When Season 5 Part 2 aired last fall, Costner’s character, John Dutton, met a sudden and shocking end — found dead in a bathroom, an exit many fans felt was unworthy of the show’s patriarch.
Some viewers accused Sheridan of taking creative revenge after Costner’s scheduling conflicts with his Horizon film series reportedly disrupted production. Others saw John’s quiet death as symbolic — the fall of a man too stubborn to adapt to the changing world he fought so hard to protect.
Regardless of the controversy, Grimes said the ending brought the Dutton story full circle. “It felt wonderfully full-circle,” he shared, referencing Yellowstone’s prequels, 1883 and 1923. “It tied in beautifully with the seven-generation arc that started all the way back then.”
Kayce’s Future in the Yellowstone Universe
While Yellowstone may have ended, its universe is far from over. Several spin-offs are in the works — including Dutton Ranch, which will revisit the fiery romance between Beth (Kelly Reilly) and Rip (Cole Hauser), and The Madison, following a new family in Montana.
Most notably, Grimes is returning as Kayce Dutton in the upcoming series Y:Marshals, expected to debut in early 2026. The new show’s teaser trailer, released in September, hints at a darker, more lawless chapter for Kayce.
When asked about reprising the role, Grimes was careful not to reveal too much. “As far as Yellowstone spin-offs and all that, as of right now, no,” he said at the time. “You never know what can happen. But as of right now, Kayce’s story has ended — and ended well.”
Still, he admitted he’s excited for the future: “I feel very good about that — having a bit of open road for the first time in a while.”
A Legacy Beyond the Ranch
Even as Grimes transitions from the Dutton ranch to new creative pursuits, including a growing country music career, his connection to Yellowstone remains deeply personal.
“It’s been one of the most rewarding experiences of my life,” he said. “We built something really special, and I think fans are going to feel that closure.”
With Y:Marshals on the horizon and new spin-offs expanding Sheridan’s western empire, it’s clear that while John Dutton may be gone, the Yellowstone legacy still rides on — and Kayce Dutton isn’t finished yet.