“Not having him on set felt a little different.”

Luke Grimes tells us what it was like filming Yellowstone without Kevin Costner.

The Paramount Network series continued filming the second part of the fifth season following Costner's exit, and Grimes said the actor's absence was felt.

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“When he didn't come back, he felt like, 'Okay, we really need to land this plane now,'” Grimes said People. “I think the departure of the patriarch would always be part of the story. That was always the question: What are these children doing? What does this family do when their stone is gone?”

Costner did not return Yellowstone due to scheduling conflicts with the actor's film Horizon: An American Saga.

“He’s got a big presence, man, the guy’s an icon,” Grimes added. “So it felt a little different not having him on set. But as always, I think we're one big family now. It was just as special and hopefully the fans can relate to the story just as much… I think they will.”

Earlier this year, Costner took to social media to confirm he would not be returning Yellowstone to film the remaining episodes of the season.

“This is what I want to share with you after this long year and a half of work horizon “And doing whatever it takes and thinking about Yellowstone, this beloved show that I love, that I know you love, that's when I just realized that I can't do Season 5B or continue in the future can,” he said. “It was something that really changed me. I loved it. And I know you liked it. And I just wanted to let you know that I won't be going back and I love the relationship that we've been able to build and I'll see you at the movies.”

Yellowstone Season 5: Part II is scheduled to premiere on Paramount Network from November 10, 2024 at 8 p.m

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