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The Yellowstone spinoff, Marshals, has sparked intrigue with hints of a shocking twist involving Monica’s fate. But what clues suggest Kelsey Asbille’s noticeable absence?
The popular series on the Paramount Network introduced audiences to Kayce (played by Luke Grimes) and Monica (portrayed by Kelsey Asbille), who have been central to the storyline. Monica, initially a teacher at a local school on the Broken Rock Indian Reservation, later transitioned to a professorial role at Montana State University. Throughout the series, she navigates life with Kayce, who relocates them back to the Yellowstone Ranch to mend a rift with his father, John (Kevin Costner).
After the passing of John, Kayce, a former U.S. Navy SEAL, steps up as the new owner and operator of the Yellowstone Ranch. The series concluded with Kayce and Monica alive and united, only for Marshals to revisit their story.
The official summary of Y: Marshals, set to premiere on March 1, reveals that Kayce leaves “ranching life behind to join an elite unit” of the U.S. Marshals. The show promises to blend his cowboy and Navy SEAL skills to enforce justice in Montana, as he and his team juggle the demands of family, duty, and the psychological toll of standing as the region’s last defense against violence.
While Kayce Dutton is set to headline his own spinoff in the Yellowstone universe, the buzz revolves around the conspicuous absence of his wife, Monica, in Marshals. Since its 2018 debut, Yellowstone has enthralled viewers with the saga of the fictional Dutton family, proprietors of Montana’s largest ranch. As the series kicked off, it delved into the complexities of Kayce and Monica’s marriage, leaving fans eager for answers about her missing presence in the new chapter.
In addition to Grimes, the show stars Arielle Kebbel, Ash Santos, Tatanka Means, Brett Cullen and Logan Marshall Green. The sneak peeks have shown Kayce discussing new beginnings, skeletons in his closet and past trauma — while Monica is nowhere to be found.
“We definitely wanted to make sure to give it a real story and make it interesting and make it believable,” Grimes told People in June 2025 about Marshals. “If it was just like, ‘Well, he’s happy’ — we’re just going to watch him be happy? That’s not very cool. But I’ll say this, the idea that was pitched to me is very, very good and very interesting and it really roped me in and I think it will rope the audience in as well.”
He continued: “There’s going to be some familiar faces. There’s going to be a lot of new faces too, so we’ll see how that all feels. To go back into it in a new set of circumstances is going to be kind of transition.”
Keep scrolling for every sign that Yellowstone fans should have been concerned about Monica’s future:
Kelsey Asbille’s Absence as Monica Despite the Focus on Kayce’s Family
The first trailer for the show showed a wedding ring on Kayce’s finger, which could hint that he is still married — or is a widower — following the events of the Yellowstone series finale. Asbille, for her part, wasn’t announced as a cast member on Marshals, didn’t appear in any promotional footage and hasn’t broken her silence about her future with the franchise.
CBS is expanding the Yellowstone universe with a spinoff centered around Kayce Dutton — but which alums are reprising their roles on the new show? Yellowstone, which premiered in 2018, introduced viewers to the fictional Dutton family, who own the largest ranch in Montana. After finding success on Paramount, creator Taylor Sheridan grew the Yellowstone […]
The Cryptic Statements About Kayce Dutton’s Next Chapter
If Asbille’s absence from all things Marshals wasn’t enough, the CBS series leaned into ominous messaging about Kayce’s state of mind.
“I fought every day to get out of the weight of Yellowstone. I’ve lost my teammates, my parents and even my brothers,” Kayce said in a sneak peek voiceover as clips showed him going to a makeshift grave for a loved one.
Kayce hinted that he wanted to start fresh. “Sometimes good men have to do bad things,” he added. “But I am trying to find a new beginning.”
In another clip, Kayce stated that the “only thing” he “ever wanted” was “taken” from him. His friend Pete (Green) is later seen doing a “wellness check” on Kayce, who has “demons to conquer” after an offscreen situation. Kayce offered another update on his personal life, saying, “Yellowstone is gone — same for most of my family.”
Hints at a Death in the ‘Marshals’ Trailers
While a scene in the Marshals sneak peek had Kayce and son Tate (Brecken Merrill) together, they were watching a body be covered up in their home. A moment at the end of the trailer showed Kayce with a woman — who was presumably meant to be Monica — in what seemed to be either a flashback or a dream sequence.