Luke Grimes, who stars as Kayce Dutton in the Yellowstone spinoff series Marshals, has confirmed that he has not spoken with his former on-screen father, Kevin Costner, since the flagship Western drama concluded in 2024. The two actors, who portrayed members of the Dutton family for five seasons, have not maintained contact since production wrapped.
Addressing the Lack of Communication
In a recent USA Today interview regarding the second season of Marshals, Grimes clarified that the silence between him and Costner is not due to a personal feud or professional fallout.
“I’ve never spoken to Kevin since we stopped working together,” Grimes explained. “Not for any other reason other than just, you know, we’re both busy guys and life moves on.”
Grimes previously told Men’s Health that while he has Costner’s contact information, he does not feel it is his place to reach out, noting the veteran actor’s status as a major figure in the industry.
Possibility of a Marshals Cameo
With Marshals in its second season, fans have speculated about a potential surprise appearance by Kevin Costner’s character, John Dutton, via flashback. Grimes, however, ruled out that possibility.
“I doubt that will happen at this point,” Grimes stated.
Instead, Grimes suggested that if the show uses flashbacks, he would prefer to see scenes featuring his character’s wife, Monica Long Dutton, played by Kelsey Asbille. “I think that’d be more poignant to the character,” he said. While no formal plans exist to bring Asbille back, he expressed a strong interest in working with her again.
Context of the Yellowstone Departure
Kevin Costner’s departure from Yellowstone followed well-publicized scheduling conflicts and production delays, resulting in John Dutton being written out before the final episodes of Season 5B. Grimes noted that the atmosphere on set shifted after Costner’s exit, describing the final period of filming as the “easiest” season to produce. He emphasized that this change was due to evolving production dynamics rather than personal animosity.
About Marshals
Marshals follows Kayce Dutton after he leaves the Yellowstone Ranch to join an elite unit of U.S. Marshals in Montana. The series draws on his background as a former Navy SEAL and a cowboy, focusing on the psychological toll of his duties. The show’s second season premiered on October 4, 2026, on CBS and Paramount+.
