CAN YOU BELIEVE IT? Luke Grimes, the stoic Kayce Dutton, is about to blow your mind! He’s ditching the cowboy hat for a HILARIOUSLY UNPREPARED new role in Ari Aster’s Eddington and dropping BOMBSHELLS on his Yellowstone spin-off, Y: MARSHALS! Plus, the truth about his “accidental media firestorm” with Kevin Costner is finally out! This is the interview you CANNOT miss! 🤫🕵️‍♀️

THE UNEXPECTED REINVENTION: LUKE GRIMES DITCHES STOIC FOR SIDE-SPLITTING

In the rugged, often intense landscape of Yellowstone, Luke Grimes has carved out an iconic niche as the quiet, morally conflicted Kayce Dutton, a man whose stoicism is as defining as the Montana mountains themselves. But prepare for a mind-bending revelation: Grimes is about to unleash a side of himself you’ve never seen. In Ari Aster’s new film, Eddington, hitting theaters this Friday, July 18, Grimes dives headfirst into comedy, delivering a performance so unexpectedly hilarious, it’s shocking.

He portrays Guy, a police officer in an isolated, Covid-stricken Southern town. Guy quickly becomes an impromptu, comically unqualified campaign manager for Sheriff Joe Cross (Joaquin Phoenix), hilariously fumbling through slogans like “Let’s Free Each Other’s Hearts” before scrambling into ill-fitting riot gear at the first sign of trouble. This portrayal is a radical departure from Kayce Dutton—a man often the epitome of preparedness and quiet strength. “He’s a guy who clearly is just afraid and trying to point the finger anywhere,” Grimes candidly revealed to Esquire. “It didn’t read that way in the script, originally, but we worked on it, and he became more of a bumbling fool than a hateful person. That was our way into it—just a guy trying to figure it all out and failing miserably.” This stunning comedic pivot showcases a versatility that Yellowstone fans are about to witness for the very first time, cementing Grimes as an actor willing to push boundaries and surprise audiences.

THE RETURN OF KAYCE: GRIMES REVEALS HIS UNEXPECTED PATH BACK TO THE DUTTON UNIVERSE

The revelations don’t stop there. After Eddington hits screens, Luke Grimes is set to make a monumental return to the Yellowstone universe, leading his own solo spin-off series on CBS, tentatively titled Y: Marshals. This news is nothing short of explosive for fans who believed Kayce Dutton’s story had found its resolution after the sale of the family ranch in the Yellowstone finale. The new show will see Grimes leading a team of U.S. Marshals, stepping into a world that, while familiar in spirit, will be fundamentally different. “There are going to be some familiar faces, but we’re not shooting here in Montana,” Grimes revealed. “Everything else is going to feel like a different world.”

What makes this return even more dramatic is Grimes’s initial reluctance to step back into Kayce’s boots. “Honestly, I did not think I was going to do it,” he confessed. “They started flirting with the idea of doing a Kayce spin-off and I was like, ‘I don’t know, guys.’ I thought it ended really well for him. We really took him through a full arc. He got what he wanted and went through hell to get it. So, let’s just let him be, personally. I remember saying I didn’t know if it would make any sense.” This shocking admission underscores the high bar for storytelling that ultimately drew him back. “Then there were a lot of ideas getting thrown around, and at some point, I heard a really good idea and that was kind of it. I thought, ‘Actually, that opens up the world for him.’ And putting the hat and jacket back on isn’t all that bad. I really liked playing that character. It was the most fulfilling job I’ve ever had in my life, so I’m happy not to say goodbye to him fully.” This unexpected shift from “I don’t know” to “most fulfilling job” highlights the compelling nature of Sheridan’s new vision for Kayce. Unlike Eddington’s bumbling Officer Guy, something tells us Kayce Dutton will be more than ready for whatever this new, distinct world throws his way.

THE AFTERMATH: NAVIGATING FAME, FAMILY, AND THE COSTNER “FIRESTORM”

Grimes also offered a rare glimpse into the more personal reverberations of Yellowstone’s massive success, and the unexpected impact of his previous candid comments regarding Kevin Costner’s departure. When asked about the “accidental media firestorm” ignited by his honesty in a previous interview, Grimes chuckled, “Yeah, I haven’t really spoken to him since he exited the show, and for no other reason than just we’re busy people. I didn’t mean to say anything that made such a clickable link. [Laughs.] That was a big lesson.” This subtle acknowledgement of the intense media scrutiny around Costner’s exit underscores the delicate balance actors must strike between honesty and public perception.

The conversation also touched on Grimes’s unique decision to hold off on watching Yellowstone until the entire series concludes. This is a fascinating insight into his process, now complicated by the ongoing spin-off plans. “Well, now I have to wait it out even longer. I got at least a couple more years of this thing. So, let’s see. Hopefully I’m not a senior citizen by the time I get to watch it,” he quipped, adding a touch of relatable humor. He also reflected on the joys of new parenthood, sharing how watching TV with his wife, a former favorite pastime, has “come to a screeching halt” since their baby’s arrival. This glimpse into his personal life grounds the interview, reminding fans that even a celebrated cowboy like Kayce Dutton navigates the same everyday joys and challenges as everyone else.

As Luke Grimes expands his acting repertoire with Eddington and prepares to lead his own Yellowstone spin-off, Y: Marshals, it’s clear his career is entering an electrifying new phase. His journey from stoic rancher to comedic relief, and back to a familiar yet redefined hero, promises a thrilling ride for fans.

With Kayce Dutton stepping into a brand-new world as a U.S. Marshal, what kind of new conflicts and alliances do you anticipate he’ll face outside the familiar confines of the Dutton Ranch?