Luke Grimes Reveals He Hasn't Spoken to Kevin Costner Since Yellowstone Ended

Luke Grimes has not spoken to Kevin Costner since the two actors stopped working together on "Yellowstone." Grimes, who played Kayce Dutton opposite Costner's John Dutton across the Western drama's five-season run, disclosed the estrangement in a recent interview with USA Today.

"I've never spoken to Kevin since we stopped working together," Grimes said. "Not for any other reason other than just, you know, we're both busy guys and life moves on."

"Yellowstone" ended in December 2024 after five seasons. Costner, the show's family patriarch, did not return for the final six episodes of Season 5B, after his character John Dutton was killed off. Grimes appeared for the show's entire run.

What did Grimes say about a Costner cameo in 'Marshals'?

Grimes now leads the "Yellowstone" spin-off "Marshals," which follows Kayce beyond the Yellowstone Ranch. Asked whether Costner might appear in the series, Grimes told USA Today it "would be cool," but added: "I doubt that will happen at this point."

He would prefer a different flashback partner. "I just don't know… I think, if there was a flashback, I'd probably rather it be with Monica than John," Grimes said, referring to Kayce's wife Monica Long Dutton, played by Kelsey Asbille. "I think that'd be more poignant to the character, but we'll see."

By the time "Marshals" premieres, Monica has died of cancer. Still, Grimes left the door open to Asbille's return: "There's been no conversation, but I sure would love it. I love working with her."

What is 'Marshals' about?

Per the official logline, the spin-off follows Kayce as he joins an "elite unit of U.S. Marshals, combining his skills as a cowboy and Navy SEAL to bring range justice to Montana, where he and his teammates must balance family, duty and the high psychological cost that comes with serving as the last line of defense in the region's war on violence."

Season 1 premiered in March 2025. Season 2 premiered Sunday.

What does this reveal about the Costner-Grimes relationship?

Grimes's comments suggest the silence between the two stars stems from circumstance rather than conflict. His framing — "we're both busy guys and life moves on" — matches the broader arc of Costner's exit from the franchise, which saw the actor depart before the final episodes and his character written out.

With "Marshals" Season 2 now airing and no conversation underway about flashbacks, the Dutton father-son pairing appears unlikely to reunive on screen. Whether Asbille's Monica returns in flashback form may be the spin-off's next casting question.