‘Yellowstone’ spinoff with Luke Grimes’ Kayce Dutton may be quietly taking shape at CBS — and the twist changes everything

Just when fans thought the dust had finally settled on the Dutton saga, a new rumor is galloping in from an unexpected direction. Industry whispers suggest that a fresh Yellowstone spinoff — one centered on Kayce Dutton — could be **in early development at CBS. And if the talk proves true, the project carries one major twist that could redefine how the Yellowstone universe moves forward.

🐎 Why Kayce Dutton, and why now?

Among the Dutton clan, Kayce has always been the quiet storm. Played with brooding restraint by Luke Grimes, Kayce embodies the franchise’s deepest tensions: loyalty versus freedom, family versus faith, violence versus redemption. While John Dutton ruled with iron will and Beth detonated every room she entered, Kayce stood at the crossroads — a man shaped by war, torn between the ranch and a life beyond it.

That unresolved tension is precisely why insiders believe Kayce is the perfect anchor for the next chapter. With the flagship series having closed a seismic era, a Kayce-led spinoff offers familiarity and reinvention — a way to keep the Dutton name alive without repeating the same power struggles.

📺 The CBS factor: a bold (and risky) shift

Here’s where the story gets intriguing. Unlike previous Yellowstone offshoots that lived comfortably within the Paramount ecosystem, this rumored series would land at CBS — a move that signals a strategic pivot.

CBS brings reach, mainstream visibility, and a broader broadcast audience. But it also comes with constraints: tighter episode lengths, stricter content standards, and a tonal recalibration away from the cable grit that defined Yellowstone’s early years. For some fans, that’s a red flag. For others, it’s an opportunity to see Kayce’s story told with a different rhythm — less shock-and-awe, more psychological tension.

⚡ The twist no one saw coming

The biggest hook isn’t just where the spinoff might air — it’s what kind of story it may tell.

According to buzz circulating in TV development circles, the Kayce series would step away from the Yellowstone ranch almost entirely. Instead of cattle wars and land grabs, the focus would shift to Kayce’s post-Dutton life, potentially exploring his background in law enforcement, federal service, or a modern frontier shaped by moral gray zones rather than barbed wire.

In other words: this wouldn’t be Yellowstone 2.0.
It would be a reinvention — a character-driven drama that follows Kayce into a world where the Dutton name no longer guarantees power, protection, or purpose.

💥 What this means for Luke Grimes

For Luke Grimes, the project could be career-defining. Kayce has always been written as a man of few words, but immense emotional gravity. A spinoff would finally allow the character to step out of the family’s shadow and confront the ghosts that Yellowstone only hinted at — combat trauma, spiritual conflict, and the cost of choosing peace in a violent legacy.

Sources stress that nothing is officially greenlit yet, but the very fact that Kayce is being positioned as a solo lead speaks volumes about the confidence behind the idea.

🤔 Will fans follow?

That’s the million-dollar question. Yellowstone viewers are fiercely loyal — but also fiercely opinionated. A Kayce-centric series on CBS, with a softer edge and a new setting, could alienate purists craving the raw intensity of the ranch wars. Yet it could also attract a new audience drawn to a grounded, emotionally resonant Western drama with modern stakes.

One thing is certain: the Dutton story may be far from over — it’s just changing direction.

🔥 Would you watch a Kayce Dutton spinoff that leaves the Yellowstone ranch behind… or does the saga only work when the land is the battlefield?