Fans of Yellowstone are bracing themselves as the series approaches its conclusion with the airing of its final episode, ‘Life Is a Promise,’ on December 15, 2024. The show, which premiered in 2018, became famous for its gripping storylines and strong performances, particularly by its lead actor, Kevin Costner. The final season, though, has proceeded without Costner, leading to speculation on the impact of his absence.
Luke Grimes, who portrays Kayce Dutton, recently discussed the dynamics on set during filming for the fifth season without Costner. He noted, “Hopefully everyone can see it was time. To be really honest, there was part of Kevin being gone meant some of the conflict was gone. Obviously, it didn’t make it super fun to be around. Not pointing any fingers, but it was actually the easiest season we’ve filmed,” he shared with Esquire.
Costner's departure can be attributed to his overlapping commitments to his film Horizon: An American Saga, which he is producing, co-writing, and directing. Unfortunately for fans, this change of schedule left the Dutton family storyline under the strain of reshuffling key plot elements. Notably, the show’s creator, Taylor Sheridan, made the controversial decision to kill off Costner’s character, John Dutton, early in Season 5.
During the course of the season, Grimes's character, Kayce Dutton, has seen significant development, now stepping out of his father's shadow. “It was a running joke on set, the dumb cowboy figured it out,” Grimes explained, referring to how Kayce has been able to grow and take the lead. “Kayce’s kind of the silent killer, and it’s great whenever he gets to use the energy for something good. He’s under his father’s thumb, sinking to the background as he would rather not be noticed.” With John Dutton out of the picture, Kayce has finally been able to thrive.
The dynamics on set shifted noticeably after Costner’s exit, and this was not lost on the remaining cast and crew. Grimes reiterated the sentiment of the season being smoother because of the absence of conflict. This newfound ease allowed for creativity to flourish, and the narrative to venture down different paths. Grimes expressed, “It feels like good timing. Seven years is long to do anything, and I had never played a character for more than a few months before. I’ve loved all of it.”
Whispers of tension between Costner and Sheridan have circulated for some time, with concerns about scheduling and filming conflicts. The situation allegedly contributed to the fractured relationship leading to Costner's eventual decision to leave. Costner himself had stated, “I don’t want to get down in the gutter with the Yellowstone thing but what I’m telling you is straight up. I have taken a beating from those guys, and I know where it’s coming from. I just elected not to get involved.” Despite these challenges, he defended his commitment to the series: “I made ‘Yellowstone’ the first priority.”
While the original series wraps up, the Yellowstone universe continues to expand. Announcements for spin-offs have been made, including one centered on characters Beth Dutton and Rip Wheeler. The prequel series, 1923, is also set to return for its second season on February 23, 2024. This means fans will have additional content featuring familiar faces from the franchise they’ve come to love.
Although Yellowstone is bidding farewell, Grimes is hopeful about the potential for his character's future. He shared, “There’s always talks of spinoffs. I’d do it [but] I just don’t understand how it would work once the story ends. Kayce wants to cowboy and be happy with his family. He doesn’t want to kill people anymore. He wants his little slice of heaven. It’s simple.”
With the series finale looming, viewers are left pondering the future of not just the characters, but the franchise as well. For six seasons, audiences have been captivated by the lives, struggles, and triumphs of the Dutton family. Despite the behind-the-scenes turmoil, the show leaves behind a legacy and expansion plan of interconnected stories within the Yellowstone universe.
