Luke Grimes Discusses Kevin Costner’s Departure from ‘Yellowstone’ and Moving Forward

Luke Grimes has addressed Kevin Costner‘s exit from the hit series Yellowstone, stating that the departure did not negatively impact the show. The popular Western drama, created by Taylor Sheridan and John Linson, premiered in 2018. It follows the Dutton family, led by patriarch John Dutton, played by Costner, who controls the largest contiguous cattle ranch in the U.S., facing constant threats to their land and lifestyle.

The series includes themes of power, family loyalty, greed, and survival in the American West and features John’s children, Jamie, Beth, and Kayce, portrayed by Wes Bentley, Kelly Reilly, and Luke Grimes, respectively. Despite Costner’s departure, Grimes expressed confidence in the show’s direction, “I just feel like it would be unfair of me to kind of talk about any of that because, you know, [the show] was seven years long and there’s so many things that happened,” he told Newsweek.

Grimes emphasized the show’s resilience and ability to “roll with the punches” amidst changes, adding that he believes the series was concluded in a manner satisfactory to its audience. The second part of Season 5 is set to premiere on November 10, 2024, marking the end of the series.

Following his departure, Costner has pursued other projects, including a four-part film series. Chapter 1 debuted on June 28, followed by Chapter 2 on September 7. There is speculation concerning whether Costner’s other commitments influenced the direction of Yellowstone.

Grimes, who found a personal affinity with Montana through filming the series, revealed that he and his wife relocated there from Los Angeles. “L.A. never really felt like home to me,” he explained to Newsweek, adding that Montana eventually felt “like home,” prompting their decision to move.

The actor’s new-found connection to Montana is also showcased in his collaboration with Carhartt for its “History in the Making” campaign, celebrating the state’s ranchers and farmers. Grimes noted, “It was the right approach to tell the story of what’s going on in this valley that I live in.”

Grimes’s acting career has seen him in diverse roles, including Marc Alan Lee in American Sniper and Elliot Grey in the Fifty Shades of Grey film franchise. He most recently appeared in the Netflix romantic comedy Happiness for Beginners, alongside Ellie Kemper.