Luke Grimes Says He Has Not Spoken With Kevin Costner Since ‘Yellowstone’

Luke Grimes says he and Kevin Costner have not spoken since their work together on Yellowstone ended, but he is not presenting the silence as evidence of a feud.

Grimes, who played Kayce Dutton opposite Costner’s family patriarch John Dutton, explained that both actors have busy lives and moved on to other work. His clarification matters because Costner’s departure from the hit Western generated years of speculation about scheduling conflicts and relationships behind the scenes.

No reunion plan is in motion

Although Grimes said a future appearance by Costner could be interesting, he also indicated that a return seems unlikely. No conversation about bringing John Dutton back has taken place, according to the actor. The original series closed Costner’s storyline after his exit, sharply limiting the options for a present-day reunion.

A flashback would offer one possible route, but Grimes said he would prefer a scene involving Kayce’s wife, Monica Dutton, played by Kelsey Asbille. He suggested that Monica’s return could carry greater emotional weight for his character. That preference keeps the focus on Kayce’s own story rather than using the past solely to revive a famous pairing.

Grimes is now leading Marshals, a continuation of the Yellowstone universe that follows Kayce as he works with an elite U.S. Marshals unit in Montana. The role moves him from one member of the Dutton ensemble to the center of a new series, giving the character a separate professional identity while retaining ties to the franchise.

Life after the Dutton ranch

Costner confirmed in 2024 that he would not return to complete the flagship show’s final season. He shifted his attention to the Horizon: An American Saga film project, while the television franchise continued through spinoffs and successor series.

Grimes’ comments draw a careful line between personal distance and professional conflict. He did not claim that the former co-stars are close off camera, but he also rejected the idea that a dramatic explanation is required for their lack of contact.

For viewers hoping to see John and Kayce together again, the answer remains cautious rather than absolute. Grimes can imagine the creative possibility, yet there is no active plan—and his preferred flashback would spotlight a different relationship in Kayce Dutton’s life.