Luke Grimes admits filming last 'Yellowstone' episodes without Kevin Costner 'felt different'

LOS ANGELES, CALIFORNIA: 'Yellowstone' star Luke Grimes recently opened up about how filming the last episodes of the Paramount series without Kevin Costner felt like.

After almost eight years of collaboration with the actor, Grimes told People that filming the last episodes without Costner, 69, gave the production a whole new vibe, stating that there was "a finality to it."

In the series, Grimes, 40, portrays Kayce Dutton, the son of Costner's character John Dutton, who owns the Yellowstone Dutton Ranch, the biggest cow ranch in the US.

Luke Grimes says Kevin Costner had 'big presence' on 'Yellowstone' set

Kevin Costner announced in June that he will not return for the second half of the fifth and final season of 'Yellowstone,' leaving fans uncertain with thoughts about how his departure would be portrayed on screen.

Following Costner's departure, the Paramount Network series proceeded to film the second installment of Season 5, with Grimes implying that the actor's absence was felt on the set.

Grimes told People, "Him [Costner] not coming back felt like, 'Okay, we're going to have to land this plane now for real.'"

"I think the patriarch leaving was always going to be part of the story. That's always where it was headed is like, what do these kids do? What does this family do when their rock is gone?" he added.

Grimes added that Costner's "a big presence, man, guy's an icon. So not having him around to set felt a little different."

"But as always, I mean, we're a big family now. It was just as special and hopefully, the fans will be able to connect with the story just as much ... I think they will be able to," he said.

Grimes admitted that there was "drama" before 'Yellowstone' resumed production, including setting up conflicts between the series and Costner's 'Horizon: An American Saga', which resulted in the Academy Award winner leaving the show in June.

About Costner's absence, Grimes said, "It definitely felt different," but asserted, "Whatever the circumstances may be, [it] definitely felt like, 'Okay, we're coming in for a landing.'"

"it was always going to go that way," he added.

'Yellowstone' continues despite Kevin Costner's departure

'Yellowstone' will make its farewell appearance on Sunday, November 10, when the remaining episodes of Season 5 air on the Paramount Network.

The Dutton Family patriarch will not be present in these episodes due to Kevin Costner's departure from the series before the production began.

'Yellowstone' clashed with Costner's 'Horizon' films, which led to a falling out between Costner and the show's creator Taylor Sheridan, creating a void in the cast and plot while Costner went ahead to follow his vision.

Grimes clarified that although Costner's exit had an impact on the set and the show, they still had work to do. He explained that everything depends on 'Yellowstone's author and creator, adding, "But it all comes down to Taylor [Sheridan's] vision."

"He has to see it to be able to write it, and I don't think he's going to write something that he doesn't want to. Basically, we're just going to see if Taylor has an idea that he gets excited about, and that's going to make all the difference here," Grimes said.

Costner announced on social media earlier in 2024 that he will no longer be returning back to 'Yellowstone' to shoot the season's remaining episodes, reported Deadline.

Costner said at the time, "I want to reach out and let you know that after this long year and a half of working on Horizon and doing all the things that’s required, and thinking about Yellowstone, that beloved series that I love, that I know you love, I just realized that I’m not going to be able to continue Season 5B or into the future."

Following Costner's exit, fans are curious about what will happen to America's favorite Montana ranchers, to which Grimes proposed that "there's always rumblings."

"I think when anything is this successful, there's a pressure to keep it going because they know they have an audience and that's what they're looking for," he said.