These 3 Yellowstone Legends Officially Return in Y: Marshals (& Fans Should be Excited)

Y: Marshals is slowing trucking along, but the confirmation of three returning Yellowstone characters to the series has immediately made the upcoming Taylor Sheridan program that much more intriguing. Sheridan’s neo-Western series, Yellowstone, unexpectedly changed the Western genre as a whole in 2018. Centered around the Dutton family, led by John Dutton III (Kevin Costner), Yellowstone is set in modern-day Montana and follows the family as they attempt to not just elevate their ranch, but keep their acquired lands out of the hands of Native Americans living on the next-door Broken Rock reservation. Yellowstone concluded on December 15, 2024, with the episode “Life is a Promise.”

Although Yellowstone is over, Sheridan’s universe is far from over. Yellowstone has already released two successful prequels to accompany the expansive series: 1883 and 1983. Over the next two years, Sheridan has several other projects coming out, expanding his television empire even more. The Madison, which is set to be released between late 2025 and early 2026, will star Michelle Pfeiffer as the head of a New York family now in Texas. 6666 and The Dutton Ranch are two spin-offs set to feature characters from Yellowstone, like Beth Dutton and Rip Wheeler. Y: Marshals, on the other hand, will see the return of Kayce Dutton (Luke Grimes) as he shifts from rancher to U.S. Marshal. Not much is known about the upcoming series, except that fans of Yellowstone can expect to also see the return of three other fan favorites.

Brecken Merrill as Tate Dutton

Image via Paramount.

Brecken Merrill (born June 20, 2008) portrays Tate Dutton in Yellowstone. According to Merrill’s IMDb, he only had one acting credit to his name before he was chosen to portray the character: a role in This is Us (2016-2022), a television series about a couple expecting triplets. Aside from Yellowstone, Merrill’s IMDb also indicates that his most recent appearance was in the mystery thriller Lifeline, which was released on February 21, 2005. Lifeline follows a call operator for a suicide hotline, who answers a phone call from someone claiming to be him.

In Yellowstone, Tate Dutton is Kayce and Monica’s son and John Dutton’s only grandchild. Tate was first introduced in the series premiere of Sheridan’s neo-Western and grew up with Kayce and Monica on the Broken Rock reservation. Throughout his childhood, up until the final events of Yellowstone, Tate experienced a number of traumatic events, although the Duttons tried to shield the boy as much as they could: Tate and Kayce accidentally stumbled upon an abducted girl in a van, for instance, and while waiting for his father, Tate had to fend off an attack from a snake. In another instance, Tate and his mother (who was pregnant at the time) were in a car accident; the car accident resulted in the loss of the baby.

Tate was last seen in the series finale of Yellowstone as the Duttons laid John to rest; Tate, who inherited the ranch, survived a plethora of conflicts throughout the series, but was alive and well as the show came to a close. As Kayce’s son and now a young adult in charge of the Yellowstone Ranch, Tate’s role in Y: Marshals may be expanded, with Tate potentially becoming more involved in his father’s escapades. Interestingly, it’s still unclear whether Tate’s mother and Kayce’s wife, Monica (Kelsey Asbille), will be a part of Y: Marshals, and if so, in what way.

Mo Brings Plenty as Mo

Mo Brings Plenty (born September 4, 1969) is an Oglala Lakota actor born and raised on the Pine Ridge Reservation, which is mainly located in South Dakota. He is a direct descendant of Brings Plenty, who fought in the Battle of the Little Bighorn in 1876. Mo Brings Plenty made his acting debut in 2007, when he starred as Crazy Horse (a real Lakota warrior) in The Wild West. Since then, Brings Plenty has portrayed other Native American characters in projects like Cowboys & Aliens (2011), The American West (2016), and Jurassic World Dominion (2022). Brings Plenty portrays Minco Dodge in Lawman: Bass Reeves, a Western television series produced by Sheridan.

In Yellowstone, Brings Plenty portrays Mo, Thomas Rainwater’s right-hand man, driver, and Head of Security for the Broken Rock reservation. A secondary character who is frequently featured throughout all five seasons of Sheridan’s neo-Western, Mo acts as Rainwater’s enforcer and often serves as a point of contact between Rainwater and the Dutton family. Mo is a member of the Tribal Police, in addition to his other duties, and served in the Army prior to the events of Yellowstone​​​​. Mo is one of many featured characters with youthful trauma, and quickly became a fan-favorite due to Brings Plenty’s strong portrayal and character evolution.

Mo was last seen in the series finale of Yellowstone, during which the character stopped a group of children from harming graves on the Yellowstone Ranch and spoke about the Dutton family’s legacy. With Y: Marshals still in its early stages, there’s no confirmation of when and how Mo will be woven into Kayce’s spin-off journey. Considering his connection to both the Duttons and Rainwater, however, one can speculate that Mo will return in a similar capacity. With Kayce joining the U.S. Marshals and being sent to uphold justice and law in Montana, it’s quite possible that Mo will be someone who will eventually reach out for Kayce’s help with trouble on the Broken Rock reservation, as well.

Gil Birmingham as Thomas Rainwater

Image via Paramount Pictures

Gil Birmingham (born July 13, 1953) portrays Thomas Rainwater throughout all five seasons of Yellowstone. Billed as one of the series’ many main actors, Birmingham was born in San Antonio, Texas, and is of Spanish and Comanche ancestry. Birmingham first got his start as an extra for Diana Ross’s music video for “Muscles” (1982) and made his screen debut as a police officer on the television series Riptide (1984-1986). Birmingham’s most popular film roles include Billy Black in the Twilight franchise, Alberto Parker in Hell or High Water (2016), and Martin Hanson in Wind River (2017). Sheridan wrote the screenplays for Hell or High Water and Wind River (and directed the latter), making Yellowstone Birmingham’s third collaboration with him.

Introduced in the premiere season one episode of Yellowstone, Rainwater serves as the leader of the Broken Rock reservation, as well as the chairman of the Confederated Tribes of Broken Rock. On the reservation, Rainwater also owns two casinos: the Painted Horse and the Gray Wolf Peak. Throughout Yellowstone, Rainwater frequently comes into conflict with the Duttons (particularly John), although they do form truces from time to time. Raised off the reservation and misled about his background until adulthood, Rainwater’s main goal is to reclaim the land he believes belongs to Broken Rock. The Duttons own much of that land, which includes Yellowstone Ranch.

Like the others, it’s unclear how Birmingham’s character will tie into Y: Marshals, although potential avenues can be considered based on Rainwater’s role in Yellowstone. With Rainwater and the Duttons engaged in conflict throughout Sheridan’s mothership series, it can be assumed that Kayce and the leader of the Broken Rock reservation will find themselves at odds once more. On the other hand, with Kayce now a U.S. Marshal, it’s possible that Rainwater and/or Kayce will find themselves in need of assistance as well. Either way, as a Yellowstone fan favorite due to his intelligent nature and complex depiction of modern Native Americans, fans of Sheridan’s neo-Western universe should be excited for this strategic businessman to return for Y: Marshals.