'I was really on the fence.' Luke Grimes on why he agreed to 'Marshals'

Just when Kayce Dutton finally found TV peace, Luke Grimes got pulled back into the “Yellowstone” universe with "Marshals."

The 2024 "Yellowstone" finale seemed to close the book on the battle-scarred modern-day cowboy, riding into the sunset with wife Monica (Kelsey Asbille) and son Tate (Brecken Merrill). Even Grimes assumed it was goodbye. It wasn’t.

A call from “Yellowstone” creator Taylor Sheridan ultimately secured Grimes back in the saddle for the Western procedural “Marshals,” premiering March 1 (CBS 8 ET/PT and Paramount+).

“I was really on the fence when Taylor called and said: ‘I’m not going to tell you to do it, or not to do it. But meet them, because it’s a good idea for a show,'" Grimes says. “This character is really his baby. But he really wanted this thing to take wings on its own."

So, as surviving Dutton clan members Rip and Beth (Cole Hauser and Kelly Reilly) prepare to return in the Paramount+ “Yellowstone” spinoff, “Dutton Ranch” later this year, executive producer Grimes brings Kayce back for “Marshals." Sheridan is still an executive producer, but the new Dutton chapter is overseen by showrunner Spencer Hudnut.

The weekly procedural format − the CBS-fave episodic structure built around a new case each week − was another reason Grimes initially hesitated.

"I had no clue what a procedural was. I'd never watched one, but my mom loves them," says Grimes, who called an actor friend for the explanation. "I was a little wary about whether it would work, taking this character from a show, 'Yellowstone', that was very much not a procedural. We sort of thread the needle to marry the two worlds."

In "Marshals," former Navy SEAL Kayce helps his military buddy Pete Calvin (Logan Marshall-Green) on Calvin's U.S. Marshals team, reluctantly at first. Because the criminals are operating in the remote Montana near Yellowstone, horseback riding is required − as are prime-time emotions for the Dutton sibling, who has always worn his heart on his sleeve.

"Kayce is not one to shy about emoting; that's what always set him apart on 'Yellowstone' with a lot of these really hard people," Grimes says. "Not every badass, not every cowboy, has to be this rough guy who doesn't feel things."

Is Monica Dutton (Kelsey Asbille) in 'Marshals' MIA or dead?

There's much to be emotional about for Kayce, with his beloved partner, Monica, noticeably absent in trailers and promotional material, leading many to speculate the character has died.

"I don't know what I'm allowed to say. Because people are asking," Grimes says. "Everyone's bringing it up. But they're going to find out soon."

It's clear that Kayce's "Yellowstone" perfect ending has exploded. But Grimes has some carryover company with Merrill, 17, returning as son Tate. Broken Rock Reservation leaders Thomas Rainwater (Gil Birmingham) and Mo (Mo Brings Plenty) also return, extending their storyline into "Marshals."

The entire East Camp section of the Dutton-Yellowstone ranch, where Kayce and Monica had put down their forever roots, had to be re-created in Utah, where the first two seasons of "Yellowstone" were shot.

"So eight years later, I was wearing the same costume on the same soundstage with a completely different cast and crew," Grimes says. "It was like a fever dream, so bizarre. But also comforting."

Grimes lives the Montana life and is father to Rigel

The Ohio-born Grimes has bought into the "Yellowstone" life, living on a 25-acre Montana ranch next to a river with his Brazilian model wife, Bianca Rodrigues Grimes, and the couple's toddler son, Rigel.

After years of "Yellowstone" riding, Grimes can handle a horse on camera, allowing the stunt people to take the reins for the dangerous stuff. "Luke gets on that horse and owns it," Hudnut says. "And he's not sore the next day."

The new TV chapter comes with professional music growth. Grimes' sophomore country album, Redbird, will be released April 3. One song, "Haunted," features in the heartbreaking final moments of "Marshals" Episode 1.

"I had written the song about losing someone super-close to me, so I sent it to Spencer because it's so personal," Grimes says. "I thought it would ratchet the scene up a notch. He agreed."

Another song, "Hummingbird," is about life with Rigel and was written when the child was 6 months old. He's now 16 months old, Grimes says, emphasizing the date detail.

"I finally understand the whole listing-the-month thing with baby ages," Grimes says. "Everything changes so fast."

At the time, Rigel was this "tiny little thing" that made adorable noises. "It's so hard to write a song for your child when they're that age that's not incredibly cheesy," Grimes says self-effacingly. "That's the closest I could get."

Grimes has no problem emoting about fatherhood. "Having a kid has been my greatest blessing," he says. "I just feel very lucky to be his dad."

Rigel might be the only living being who has actually laughed at Grimes' black Kayce Dutton cowboy hat and gotten away without bodily harm. The kid was amused to see his dad in the "Marshals" getup while visiting the set.

"He just thinks my cowboy hat is really funny," Grimes says. "He doesn't get it at all and was kind of blown away. We had to send him home before shooting the big fight scene that day. It's a lot for him. But he loves it."