Luke Grimes and Kevin Costner played one of television’s most complicated father-son pairs. Their bond drove five seasons of Yellowstone. And fans are still asking where the two stand today.
In a new interview, Grimes finally gave an answer. He has not spoken to Costner since they stopped working together. But he insists there is no bad blood behind the silence.
What Luke Grimes Said About Kevin Costner
Grimes, 42, opened up in a video interview with USA Today published Monday, October 5. First, he answered the question every fan asks. His reply was plain: “I have never spoken to Kevin since we stopped working together.”
The distance, he explained, came down to busy schedules — not drama. His words: “Not for any other reason other than we are both just busy guys and life moves on.”
This is not the first time Grimes has addressed the relationship. Similarly, back in 2024, shortly after Costner’s exit, he said there were no hard feelings between them. Two years later, his message has not changed. His full comments, reported by Just Jared, make that clear.
Why Kevin Costner Left Yellowstone
Costner, 71, announced in June 2024 that he would not return. He sat out the second half of Yellowstone‘s fifth and final season. The Oscar winner pointed to his multi-part Western film project, Horizon: An American Saga. That commitment, he said, made it impossible to continue.
The final episodes premiered that November. His character John Dutton was killed off, closing the book on the ranch patriarch.
The exit became one of the most talked-about moments in recent TV history. For years, reports had swirled about scheduling tensions and production disputes. As a result, many fans assumed the silence between the two actors meant something personal. Grimes’ latest comments push back on that idea directly. Parade’s breakdown of the interview notes the same takeaway: no feud, just two busy lives moving in different directions.
The Yellowstone Universe Timeline: What Happened and What’s Next
The franchise has kept moving without its original lead. Here is how the last two years unfolded:
- June 2024: Costner confirms he will not return for Yellowstone‘s final episodes.
- November 2024: The final episodes air, and John Dutton is killed off.
- 2025: Marshals, the Kayce Dutton spinoff, debuts on CBS as the fourth series in the Yellowstone universe.
- October 4, 2026: Marshals season 2 premieres, with Grimes back as Kayce, now serving with an elite U.S. Marshals unit in Montana.
- October 5, 2026: Grimes tells USA Today he has not spoken to Costner since their Yellowstone days.
In addition to the Yellowstone universe, fans of big Paramount-style TV dramas can read our guide to Mayor of Kingstown season 5. It covers another major final season arriving soon.
Could Kevin Costner Return? What Grimes Wants Instead
Grimes did not completely close the door. He told USA Today it “would be cool” to see Costner back. But he added: “I doubt that will happen at this point.” Reality Tea’s report on the interview highlights the same honest uncertainty.
There is also a story problem: John Dutton is dead. Any return would have to come through a flashback. Interestingly, Grimes has a different flashback in mind.
Instead, he would rather revisit Kayce’s late wife Monica. Kelsey Asbille played her across 53 episodes from 2018 to 2024. “I think that would be more poignant to the character,” he said.
The Bottom Line for Yellowstone Fans
Marshals is now in its second season, and the flagship series has finished. The franchise belongs to the next generation of Duttons. Overall, Grimes’ comments suggest the future is forward-looking, not backward. Meanwhile, Costner continues to focus on his Horizon film saga.
For fans hoping for one last father-son scene, here is the honest answer. Do not hold your breath — but the door is not fully locked either. Whatever comes next, the Luke Grimes and Kevin Costner era of Yellowstone is officially over. Two years after the most debated exit in modern TV, the real story finally turns out to be the least dramatic one. Two busy actors simply moved on with their lives. Sometimes, that is all there is to it.
For more entertainment news, read Viola Davis’s reveal about her shingles diagnosis and our Mayor of Kingstown season 5 preview.
