Luke Grimes knew signing on to the Yellowstone spinoff wouldn’t be easy. He just didn’t expect the hardest would be picking up the phone.

Grimes reprises Kayce Dutton in Marshals, which premiered March 1 on CBS. But the debut delivered a gut punch: Kayce’s wife, Monica (Kelsey Asbille), has died after a cancer diagnosis.

Fans had already noticed Asbille’s absence from the cast list. Now they know why.

Grimes admits he was “heartbroken.”

“It felt like, ‘I don’t even know what that would look like doing it without her, what that would feel like.’ Kelsey’s become one of my best friends,” he told TV Insider.

“She’s the coolest actor I’ve ever worked with. She’s down to earth, sweet and kind to every other actor and the crew.”

Before agreeing to the storyline, he made a call.

“I worked up the courage to call. I didn’t know how she was going to feel about it,” Grimes said. “I had to see how she was doing.”

The conversation? Better than he feared.

“In true Kelsey fashion, she handled it like a pro and totally understood. She’s going to do just fine.”

Creator Spencer Hudnut said the loss was necessary after Kayce and Monica’s peaceful ending. “We had to shake up his life, to get him off the ranch and into a new position,” he explained, adding the storyline also highlights higher cancer rates on reservations.

As painful as it is, Grimes promises the risk pays off: “the idea that was pitched to me is very, very good and very interesting and it really roped me in.”

Ready to be roped in, too? 

• Opposition leaders urged to prioritise national interest.
• Law minister says PM Shehbaz to give in-camera briefing.
• Achakzai suggests expanding briefing to entire parliament.
  

Prime Minister Shahbaz Sharif has invited parliamentary leaders and heads of political parties for a briefing on the regional situation, the PM’s adviser Rana Sanaullah said on Tuesday.

Speaking to the media in Islamabad, he said the meeting will be held tomorrow at 11:30am to discuss domestic and regional security amid Pakistan’s response to the Afghan Taliban regime’s provocative actions along the border and the conflict in the Middle East.

“We have come to invite opposition leaders and party heads on the instructions of the prime minister,” Sanaullah said.

He said that opposition leaders have been asked to offer views beyond partisan considerations.

“Opposition leaders will consult with their colleagues before taking any decisions,” Sanaullah said, emphasising that no side should attach any demands to the meeting.

However, National Assembly Opposition Leader Mahmood Khan Achakzai suggested the briefing should be expanded to the entire parliament rather than selected members.

“Given the dangerous regional developments, Parliament must be kept fully informed. We will provide our response by tomorrow morning after consulting with our colleagues,” he said.

The scheduling of the briefing comes as tensions in the Middle East spike following joint strikes by the United States and Israel on Iran.

The two countries launched an assault on Tehran on February 28, with US officials saying the military campaign aimed to destroy Iran’s navy and missile capabilities.

Besides the Middle East conflict, Pakistan is also tackling cross-border terrorism originating from Afghanistan.

The Pakistan Armed Forces continue ground and aerial operations under Operation Ghazab lil-Haq, targeting Afghan Taliban elements and Fitna al-Khawarij militants involved in the cross-border incursion.

Security forces launched the operation on February 27 after Afghan Taliban fighters resorted to unprovoked firing along the Pakistan-Afghanistan border.

Since then, security forces have killed 464 Afghan Taliban fighters, while more than 660 have been injured.

Pakistani forces have destroyed 188 Afghan Taliban checkposts, while capturing 31 posts.

Meanwhile, Law Minister Azam Nazeer Tarar said that the prime minister will give an in-camera briefing to the country’s political leaders during the meeting.

He added that Sanaullah has been tasked with extending invitations to the heads of political parties.

Bestselling author Michaeleen Doucleff offers science-backed tips on how families can curb their screen time and cut back on ultraprocessed foods. She explains how her new book, which is aimed at rewiring children’s brains, began with a personal revelation.