Luke Grimes’ Yellowstone spinoff sounds iffy, and Taylor Sheridan’s update suggests trouble at Paramount. Is the Dutton-verse on shaky ground?

Credit:- Paramount Network

Luke Grimes is cool and all, but when I heard he might be getting his own Yellowstone spinoff, my first reaction was: really? Of all the characters to build a new show around, Kayce Dutton wouldn’t have topped my list. And frankly, the concept just doesn’t sound that exciting. What made Yellowstone work was the messy family dynamics and power plays take that away, and what’s left?

To make things worse, Taylor Sheridan’s latest update hints that things aren’t exactly sunshine and roses over at Paramount. If the guy running the Dutton-verse is hitting roadblocks, this spinoff might be in real trouble.

Luke Grimes’ Yellowstone spinoff sounds bad and Taylor Sheridan’s exit says a lot

Luke Grimes as Kayce in the series. | Credit: Paramount Network.

I’ll be real with you folks: Y: Marshals might be one of the worst spinoff titles I’ve ever heard. And knowing Taylor Sheridan isn’t actually steering this one’s got me raising an eyebrow so high it’s in a different zip code.

Per Variety, the show stars Luke Grimes as Kayce Dutton, the same quiet cowboy we all grew to love. Only now, he’s mixing his Navy SEAL past with ranch life to deliver “range justice” in Montana. Sounds like Yellowstone: NCIS Montana if you ask me. And the kicker, it’s not even written or directed by Sheridan. It’s Spencer Hudnut of SEAL TEAM fame calling the shots.

TS’ name is still on the executive producer list, but let’s be honest that feels more like a courtesy credit than actual involvement. Even CBS admitted (via Esquire),

We’re still early in the process…He’s a very busy guy, so we’ll take what we can get.

The man’s moved on, and this stuff’s running without its creator. What really gets me is how this lines up with all the other weirdness coming out of Paramount. Budget cuts, Sheridan projects being shuffled around, 1923 couldn’t make much impact, but 1883 did, it’s all feeling kind off.

This’ll be the first time a Yellowstone series wasn’t birthed straight from Sheridan’s imagination. That worries me. Does it worry you, though? I mean, The Madison, 1944 at least sounds like it has a vibe. And I’ll take anything with Kelly Reilly and Cole Hauser. But Y: Marshals?

I’m just not convinced the Dutton universe can survive without its godfather.

What Yellowstone actors like Kelly Reilly and Cole Hauser took from set

Kelly Reilly and Luke Grimes in Yellowstone Season 5 Part 2 | Credits: Paramount Network

As Yellowstone wrapped up, the cast made sure to leave with some personal mementos. Kelly Reilly, aka Beth Dutton, snatched up Beth’s lighter, calling it her “keepsake” despite the fact she could never get it to work. She joked (via Esquire),

It’s only usually because of the wind…But I heard Paramount was going to gift me the Bentley so I’m just waiting for that to arrive.

Cole Hauser (Rip) took his cowboy hat and jacket, while Luke Grimes (Kayce) kept his signature jacket thanks to costume designer Johnetta Boone. He’s even planning to frame it.

Meanwhile, Wes Bentley (Jamie) wasn’t so sentimental. “Jamie’s got such bad energy,” he admitted, ready to leave the character behind. For Gil Birmingham, the real gift was the friendships he made.

Watch Yellowstone now on Peacock & Apple TV.