Luke Grimes on Kevin Costner’s “Unfortunate” ‘Yellowstone’ Exit: “You Gotta Do What You Gotta Do”

Luke Grimes on Kevin Costner’s “Unfortunate” ‘Yellowstone’ Exit: “You Gotta Do What You Gotta Do”

Luke Grimes is discussing his feelings over Kevin Costner, his on-screen father, leaving Yellowstone.

Grimes responded to Costner's ostensibly contentious exit from the popular Western series in a recent interview with The Independent, stating that while it was "unfortunate," he understood the actor's choice.

The actor from Fifty Shades of Grey stated, "Whatever happened there is unfortunate if it's changed anything about how the show was going to unfold." "I understand that [Costner] became quite busy filming his passion projects, such as the recently revealed Horizon: An American Saga. You have to do what you love at some point, man; you have to do what you gotta do.

Grimes plays Kayce Dutton, the son of Costner's John Dutton III, in the series co-created with Taylor Sheridan.

Costner told Entertainment Tonight earlier this month that he would "love" to return for the finale episodes to see his character's journey come to a finish, despite the fact that his departure from Yellowstone was difficult—especially when he threatened to pursue a lawsuit last year.

Although we haven't been able to, I'd like to be able to do it. I had intended to produce seven seasons, but as of today, we have only produced five. As a result, they have a number of different programs going on, which I hope works well. Perhaps it will. Perhaps this will come full circle to me. The Oscar-winning actor stated at the time, "I'd love to do it if it does and I feel really comfortable with [it]."

"[Dutton] has to take the initiative in what transpires, and I've kind of imagined what [the character's final arc] might be," he continued. But Taylor isn't into it. I told him as much some time ago. I had some ideas about how that might occur, but we'll have to wait and see.

Sheridan, like most showrunners, doesn't usually let actors choose how their characters' storylines finish. It has been previously claimed that Costner wanted to approve his character's fate in the series.

Although the show hasn't formally revealed when part two of the fifth season will go into production, The Independent said that because the scripts are already completed, filming for the remaining episodes is expected to commence in May.

Grimes expressed his displeasure with the series' politicization and liberal fans' labeling of it as a "conservative fantasy" in other parts of the discussion.

"I believe that many people automatically assume that someone who wears a cowboy hat and rides a horse doesn't share their beliefs. The American Sniper star added, "It's almost like they take these flawed characters in the show and chalk it up to some sort of weird belief that they've put on them." "In the interim, it's acceptable to have a bad person living in a Manhattan apartment, such as Logan Roy from Succession." That man is a complete moron! However, that's alright. I find it hilarious because I don't see why that needs to automatically translate into a certain political viewpoint. Furthermore, I doubt it does.

The second half of Yellowstone's fifth and final season is scheduled to launch in November, as originally announced by Paramount Network. It's unclear, though, if production schedule changes could affect that timetable.