Luke Grimes is opening up about his current relationship with former Yellowstone costar Kevin Costner, explaining that the two actors have not stayed in touch since their time working together came to an end.
Grimes, who played Kayce Dutton opposite Costner’s family patriarch John Dutton, said in an interview published this week that he has not spoken with Costner since they stopped working together. But the actor was careful not to frame the distance as a feud, explaining that both men are busy and that life simply moved forward.
Grimes says there is no hidden conflict
The relationship between Costner and the Yellowstone franchise has been the subject of intense speculation since his departure from the hit series. Costner’s character was written out during the fifth and final season, while reports about scheduling and the show’s production fueled years of headlines.
Grimes’ comments offer a more understated view of what happened after filming. Rather than describing a falling-out with his onscreen father, the 42-year-old said the lack of contact was not motivated by any other issue.
That distinction matters because the drama surrounding Yellowstone has often blurred the line between reported production disagreements and the personal relationships among cast members.
Could Kevin Costner ever return?
Grimes is now continuing Kayce Dutton’s story in the expanding Yellowstone universe. Asked about the possibility of Costner appearing again, Grimes indicated that seeing John Dutton in a flashback could be interesting, while acknowledging that such a return seems unlikely at this stage.
Costner’s exit marked a major turning point for the original series. John Dutton had been central to the show’s conflicts over family, land and power from the beginning, making his absence a significant creative challenge for the final stretch.
Grimes, meanwhile, remains one of the familiar faces carrying the franchise forward. His role as Kayce has consistently placed him between the Dutton family’s violent legacy and his desire for a quieter life with his own family.
The Dutton universe continues
The success of Yellowstone has produced multiple spinoffs and expanded stories, allowing Paramount’s western drama universe to continue beyond the original series. Grimes’ involvement gives longtime viewers a direct connection to the show that launched the franchise into a television phenomenon.
For fans hoping that off-screen distance between Grimes and Costner signals a deeper dispute, Grimes’ explanation suggests otherwise. The actor’s account is less dramatic: two former colleagues finished a major chapter of their careers and have since been occupied with separate projects.
Whether the two eventually reconnect publicly remains to be seen, but Grimes appears to have left the door open to remembering their years together on the Dutton ranch without turning their lack of contact into another Yellowstone feud.