Kayce and Monica posing together and looking to the side in Yellowstone
Luke Grimes' return to his career-defining role as Kayce Dutton for the Yellowstone spinoff was tempered by the news that Kayce's wife, Monica , was not going to be a part of the CBS series. Monica is instead killed off-screen, with Kayce and his young son Tate spending much of the spinoff mourning their shared unexpected and devastating loss.
In new reporting for the What I'm Hearing newsletter at Puck, journalist Matt Belloni reveals that the decision to kill off Monica was at least partly motivated by the need to differentiate Marshals from being just another Yellowstone continuation. That need stems from a deal that was struck before the existence of Paramount+ and prior to Yellowstone fully establishing itself as such a popular franchise. The deal means that any spinoff of Yellowstone can stream on Paramount+. However, any direct continuation of the Yellowstone series would have to stream on Peacock since Peacock acquired the streaming rights to Yellowstone back in 2020. It seems that excluding Monica from Marshals was an attempt to downplay it as a direct continuation of Yellowstone, avoiding any potential legal issues between the parent companies of Paramount+ and Peacock. Monica's Death Explained In Marshals In the debut episode of Marshals, it's revealed that Monica dies of cancer as a result of the toxicity from a mining company that has tainted the waters of the Broken Rock Reservation. The loss neatly sets up the antagonists of the spinoff, but it also heavily impacts how Kayce and Tate are living by the time that viewers catch up with them. The loss of Monica in such a tragic way undoes the happy Yellowstone ending that Kayce can only briefly enjoy. At the end of the original series, Kayce, Monica, and Tate leave Kayce's complicated Dutton family history behind to start a new life. The loss of that hope is enough of a catalyst for a new spinoff, but it also might have been done to underline the fact that Marshals is not just a Yellowstone sequel. Yellowstone's Universe And Its Future On Paramount Despite the fact that the Marshals cast features Yellowstone originals like Grimes, Merrill, Gil Birmingham, and Mo Brings Plenty, it is apparently distinct enough not to fall under the category of a direct Yellowstone continuation. Marshals is more of a CBS procedural, with the lead character becoming a U.S. Marshal, and it is so far streaming on Paramount+ without any issues. The Dutton Ranch, featuring Kelly Reilly and Cole Hauser returning as Beth Dutton and Rip Wheeler, is also set to stream on Paramount+ as of May 15. It changes locations and is largely focused on new characters. Along with speculation that Peacock and Paramount+ may choose to collaborate on a subscription bundle, it may be that the future of Yellowstone and Marshals on Paramount is secure. Subscribe to the newsletter for TV franchise insights Get deeper context by subscribing to the newsletter: understand how streaming rights, platform deals, and creative choices intersect to shape spinoffs like Marshals. Subscribe for insider-focused coverage of TV franchise strategy and developments. Get Updates By subscribing, you agree to receive newsletter and marketing emails, and accept our Terms of Use and Privacy Policy. You can unsubscribe anytime. Marshals airs Sundays on CBS at 8 PM ET and releases the next day on Paramount+. 13 9.6/10 Marshals 10 stars 9 stars 8 stars 7 stars 6 stars 5 stars 4 stars 3 stars 2 stars 1 star Like Follow Followed TV-14 Drama Western Crime Release Date 2026 - 2026 Network CBS Showrunner Spencer Hudnut Directors Christopher Chulack, Greg Yaitanes Writers Spencer Hudnut, Tom Mularz, Dana Greenblatt Cast See All
United States Latest News, United States Headlines
Similar News:You can also read news stories similar to this one that we have collected from other news sources.
The Best Western Show Of The 21st Century Debuted 14 Years Before YellowstoneKevin Costner in season 2 of Yellowstone
Read more »
How Marshals Continues An Important 8-Year Taylor Sheridan Tradition That Began With YellowstoneMo, Thomas, and Kayce in Marshals.
Read more »
Yellowstone Stars Break Silence on Marshals Killing Off MonicaFormer 'Yellowstone' stars have broken their silence on Kelsey Asbille's character, Monica, being killed off the 'Marshals' spinoff
Read more »
Fantastic Four's New Appearance Introduces Permanent New Superpower for A-List Herovanessa kirby's invisible woman and the fiery avengers logo
Read more »
New report details systemic failures in Ohio wrongful convictionsThe full report is available to view at the end of this story.
Read more »
Medicaid cuts threaten hundreds of hospitals, new report findsBerkeley Lovelace Jr. is a health and medical reporter for NBC News. He covers the Food and Drug Administration, with a special focus on Covid vaccines, prescription drug pricing and health care. He previously covered the biotech and pharmaceutical industry with CNBC.
Read more »