The Yellowstone franchise has been a massive force of nature in the world of TV for the better part of a decade, though with that core series now having been concluded, fans of the Dutton clan still get to see creator Taylor Sheridan showcase different sides of integral figures. Much like when a musical group breaks up and the various members start their own projects, fans are intrigued by these Yellowstone spin-offs, as they wonder if they’ll feel just like what came before it or if we’ll see all-new sides of these characters.
For at least one extension of the franchise, though, there’s a lot of overlap with what made the originator such a success, to the point that the creatives involved felt like they were making Yellowstone Season 6.
While speaking with Collider, Marshals and Dutton Ranch director Greg Yaitanes addressed the likelihood of either Kayce Dutton (Luke Grimes) showing up in Dutton Ranch or Beth Dutton (Kelly Reilly) showing up in Marshals. Based on the premises of the two series, Yaitanes thinks the former is more likely:
“That’s a really good question. We talked about that a lot because each wanted to be on the other show. I feel like Kayce should go to Dutton Ranch. That feels like something that I would lose my sh*t over as a fan. That would be pretty cool. I just don’t know, in the world of what Marshals is, if Beth coming in would fit into that quite as well. Kayce would just naturally fold into Dutton Ranch because there’s a tonal similarity to the original Yellowstone. A lot of the people involved with Dutton Ranch really felt like they were making Yellowstone Season 6. Marshals is much more genre and guns-forward and those kinds of cool things.”
It’s hard to argue with Yaitanes on why Kayce showing up on Dutton Ranch would feel like a more organic fit, though the unexpected nature of Beth appearing on Marshals could be something to make the crossover so satisfying.
Why Did ‘Yellowstone’ Even End in the First Place?
Part of what made the original series so exciting is that it starred Kevin Costner as John Dutton. Costner has been an acclaimed performer and filmmaker for decades across multiple genres, while having also already showcased his talents in the Western genre, as his Dances With Wolves scored him the Oscar for Best Picture and Best Director, in addition to projects like Wyatt Earp, The Postman, and Open Range specifically showcasing his Western chops. Getting to see Costner in any TV series was a thrill, let alone in a genre he’s so closely associated with.
Each season of the series seemed to make Yellowstone grow only more popular, which is why fans were so shocked to hear that Costner was exiting the show with Season 5. More specifically, he wasn’t even going to stick around for the whole season, instead leaving at the end of Season 5, Part 1. Costner’s success and ambition were reportedly part of his exit, with reports claiming he wanted to focus his attention on the epic Horizon: An American Saga series of films. Additionally, reports emerged that claimed Costner and Sheridan weren’t aligned creatively on the series’ future.
Sheridan made the difficult but understandable decision to bring the series to a conclusion rather than try to continue indefinitely without John Dutton. However, with Marshals already being renewed for a Season 2, and with other spin-offs 1883 and 1923 being well received and with more spin-offs in the works, it’s clear Sheridan can still extend his success outside the core Yellowstone show. Costner, meanwhile, premiered Horizon: An American Saga – Chapter 2 in early 2025, though it has not yet earned an official release.
