Yellowstone Actor Says Kevin Costner’s Departure Made for ‘Easiest Season We’ve Ever Filmed’

The last episodes Yellowstone they were easier to film after Kevin Costner left, according to one cast member.

Luke Grimes, who plays the son of Kayce Dutton Costner’s John Dutton III on the Paramount drama series, recently spoke with Esquire about the temperature on set after Costner’s character was killed off after five seasons of the hit series.

“I hope everyone sees that it’s about time,” Grimes, 40, said in an interview published Tuesday, Dec. 10.

Kevin Costner and Luke Grimes in Yellowstone. Paramount Network

“To be really honest, there was a part of Kevin leaving that meant some of the conflict was gone. Obviously, it wasn’t super fun to be around. Not pointing fingers, but it was actually the easiest season we’ve shot,” he said of the second half of Season 5 of the show. Costner left the series after the first half of season 5.

Much of the conflict Grimes was referring to involved Costner, 69, and series creator Taylor Sheridan falling out amid the actor working on his own western epic, Horizon: An American Sagawhich saw an overlap in recording time.

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“I don’t want to fall into the gutter with Yellowstone but what I’m telling you is pure. I’ve gotten beat up by those fucking dudes and I know where it comes from a lot of times. I just decided not to get into it,” Costner previously told Deadline.

“I did it Yellowstone first priority, and to insinuate anything else would be wrong,” he said in an interview in May.

Yellowstone photos with Kevin Costner.

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Despite the drama, Grimes added that Yellowstone naturally followed its course.

“It feels like a good time,” he said of the streak coming to an end. “Seven years is a long time to do anything, and I’ve never played a character for more than a few months before.”

‘Yellowstone’ cast: Everything you need to know

The 50 shades of grey The alum added that there were still good times: “I loved it all.”

“But there’s a part of it that — after you read those last episodes — you see that there’s a finality to it. There’s always talk of a spin-off,” Grimes said, noting that he would be open to it.

Luke Grimes as Kayce Dutton in ‘Yellowstone’.

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“I would do it [but] I just don’t understand how that would work when the story ends. Kayce wants to be a cowboy and be happy with his family. He doesn’t want to kill people anymore. He doesn’t want the weight of a huge mega ranch that isn’t sustainable in this day and age. He wants his little piece of heaven. It’s that simple,” he said of his character’s fate.

Grimes’ comments on Esquire of Costner’s departure echoed statements he previously told PEOPLE.

“Having him not come back felt like, ‘Okay, now we’re really going to have to land this plane,’” Grimes told PEOPLE about the story.

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“I think the departure of the patriarch will always be part of the story. That was always where it was going, what do these kids do? What does this family do when their rock is gone?”

He also admitted that it “felt a little different” not having Costner around, calling the cast “a big family now.”

All five seasons Yellowstone streaming on Peacock and Paramount+. The series finale airs on Saturday, December 15.

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