The first trailer for Marshals, the new Yellowstone spinoff focusing on Kayce Dutton, has fans worried. The preview, released on January 23, 2026, shows Kayce moving forward but hints at a major personal tragedy. Most noticeably, his wife, Monica Dutton, played by Kelsey Asbille, is completely absent from the footage.
The trailer suggests a heartbreaking possibility that Monica may have died. Kayce is seen alone in bed, and a scene shows a nurse pulling a sheet over a body in what was their home. Prescription bottles sit on a nearby table. Kayce is later shown kneeling at a simple, crude grave. The official show description adds to the concern. It lists Kayce’s family as his son, Tate, and his friends from the Broken Rock Reservation, but does not mention Monica at all.
This is a shocking turn for fans. The series finale of Yellowstone in late 2024 left Kayce and Monica together, looking toward a peaceful future after selling the ranch. Now, the Marshals story seems to begin with Kayce having lost “most of my family” and joining a U.S. Marshals team to cope.
Clues in the Trailer Point to a Tragic Loss
The two-minute trailer is packed with visual hints about Monica’s fate. The opening scenes quickly set a somber tone. After a small explosion, Kayce is startled awake in the cabin at the East Camp, but he is alone in the bed. Shortly after, a nurse is seen covering a body with a sheet in that same bed. The presence of medicine bottles suggests a prolonged illness, though the cause is not clear.
“The only thing I ever wanted was taken from me,” Kayce says in a voice-over as these images play.
Later, Kayce visits a rough burial site marked by a simple wooden cross, reinforcing the idea of a death in the family. The final, confusing clue comes near the trailer’s end. Kayce is looking over a field when a shrouded figure approaches him. His calm reaction suggests it might be Monica’s spirit, adding a layer of mystery. However, the overwhelming evidence from other scenes strongly points to her death.
What the Cast List and Actors Reveal
Official information supports the theory that Monica is gone. Kelsey Asbille’s name is not included in the announced cast list for Marshals. In contrast, other familiar faces from Kayce’s life are confirmed to return. Gil Birmingham will reprise his role as Chief Thomas Rainwater, and Mo Brings Plenty is back as Mo. Most importantly, Brecken Merrill returns as Kayce and Monica’s son, Tate Dutton. The official logline specifies that Kayce’s family now consists of Tate and his “confidantes” from the reservation.
Asbille has not publicly commented on her absence from the new series. Her last social media post was on December 24, where she spoke positively about working with her on-screen husband, Luke Grimes. Grimes himself has spoken about the challenge of returning to play Kayce after the character got what he called a “perfect” ending on Yellowstone. He said the new story idea from showrunner Spencer Hudnut was compelling enough to bring him back.
Why Monica’s Absence Drives the New Story
The apparent loss of Monica appears to be the central event that pushes Kayce into his new life. With the Yellowstone Ranch gone and his family shattered, Kayce’s decision to join an elite U.S. Marshals unit seems to be a way to channel his grief and skills. The show will combine his background as a cowboy and a former Navy SEAL.
Despite the tragedy, a small detail offers a clue about Kayce’s feelings. In promotional images released for the show, Kayce is still wearing his wedding ring. This suggests that even if Monica has died, their marriage was not in trouble, and Kayce remains committed to her memory.
The new series will introduce a team of marshals working in Montana. The team includes Pete Calvin (Logan Marshall-Green), Belle Skinner (Arielle Kebbel), Andrea Cruz (Ash Santos), and Miles Kittle (Tatanka Means). They will work together to bring justice to the region, with Kayce balancing this dangerous duty with his role as a single father to Tate.
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When and Where to Watch Marshals
Marshals is scheduled to premiere on Sunday, March 1, 2026. The show will air on CBS at 8 p.m. ET/PT and will also be available for streaming on Paramount+. The premiere will be a two-hour special event.
This series is one of several new projects expanding the Yellowstone universe. Another spinoff, The Dutton Ranch, will focus on the characters of Beth and Rip, played by Kelly Reilly and Cole Hauser. A separate series, The Madison, starring Michelle Pfeiffer and Kurt Russell, is set to debut on Paramount+ on March 14, 2026.
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