The rugged world of Yellowstone may be drawing to a close, but the behind-the-scenes stories and the raw emotions of its lead actors are what truly keep fans on the edge of their seats. And now, Luke Grimes, who masterfully brought Kayce Dutton to life, has dropped a shocking revelation, pulling back the curtain on the unexpected end of this television phenomenon. The entire cast and crew, from the stars to the production team, were left reeling when they had to say goodbye!

The “Ending” Shockwave: Luke Grimes Unveils Raw Emotion

In a scorching, exclusive interview with People on Wednesday, June 25, Luke Grimes candidly opened up about the moment he believed his journey with Kayce Dutton was over. “On the last day of shooting, I thought it was my last day as Kayce. It was over to me,” Grimes, 41, recounted. “It was seven years of playing a person that I’ll never see again, except for having his hat and jacket in my closet. It wasn’t until probably three or four months after that that everything started aligning for the [spinoff].”

Grimes admitted he didn’t expect to be so profoundly affected by Kayce Dutton’s conclusion. “It was a lot bigger of a life moment than I thought it would be,” he noted with palpable emotion. “To try to put that show away, it was hard. It was really hard, and I know this is going to sound weird, but it was sort of emotional. It was like losing a family in a way.”

“Nobody Wanted It To Be Over” – The Staggering Truth Revealed

And then, Luke Grimes delivered another bombshell, confirming what every Yellowstone fan secretly knew, but rarely heard so directly from an insider: “Nobody wanted it to be over.” He emphasized: “I don’t think the fans wanted it to be over. A lot of us actors kind of didn’t want it to be over, and the studio and network certainly didn’t want it to be over.”

This powerful statement not only validates the collective grief of a massive team but also subtly hints at the underlying pressures and conflicts behind the scenes that ultimately forced Yellowstone to its conclusion, despite its monumental success and the unwavering love of its audience.

Kevin Costner’s Mysterious Exit and The Spinoff That Rose From The Ashes

Amidst this tumultuous backdrop, Yellowstone‘s unforeseen ending became intrinsically linked to the sudden departure of Kevin Costner. News of John Dutton being “killed off” in Season 5B sent shockwaves through the entertainment world. Costner, 70, had previously denied rumors of a feud with creator Taylor Sheridan, asserting: “I have taken a beating from those f***ing guys and I know a lot of times where it’s coming from. I just elected not to get into that. But if you know me well enough, I made Yellowstone the first priority, and to insinuate anything else would be wrong.” Costner maintained he left “exactly when they wanted,” a decision that was “hard on me,” as they “didn’t have the scripts for 5B.”

Yet, amidst this uncertainty, a stunning new development emerged: Luke Grimes’ Kayce Dutton would get his own spinoff, titled Y: Marshals, on CBS. Grimes explained his unexpected return: “If it was just like, ‘Well, he’s happy’ — we’re just going to watch him be happy? That’s not very cool. But I’ll say this, the idea that was pitched to me is very, very good and very interesting, and it really roped me in, and I think it will rope the audience in as well.”

The Y: Marshals series will follow Kayce as he “joins an elite unit of U.S. Marshals, combining his skills as a cowboy and Navy SEAL to bring range justice to Montana, where he and his teammates must balance family, duty and the high psychological cost that comes with serving as the last line of defense in the region’s war on violence.” And here’s the million-dollar revelation: “There’s going to be some familiar faces. There’s going to be a lot of new faces too, so we’ll see how that all feels,” Grimes teased mysteriously.

This new spinoff is slated to premiere in spring 2026, commanding a Sunday primetime slot on CBS. While saying goodbye to Yellowstone was a “bizarre transition” for Grimes, the excitement of returning to that world under new circumstances promises a compelling and fresh chapter for dedicated fans.

Which “familiar faces” from the Yellowstone universe are you desperately hoping to see return in Y: Marshals, and do you think this spinoff can truly heal the wound left by Yellowstone‘s ending? Let us know your thoughts!