Luke Grimes Reprises Role in Paramount’s Gripping New Western Drama: From Yellowstone Ranch to U.S. Marshal Badge, Kayce’s Journey Continues in a High-Stakes Sequel Series

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 “Kayce Dutton’s story is far from over and he’s officially back!” Fans of the Yellowstone universe can breathe a sigh of relief, as Paramount Network has confirmed Luke Grimes will reprise his role as the brooding rancher-turned-lawman in the highly anticipated spin-off Y: The Marshal, set to premiere on CBS in March 2026. This procedural powerhouse, created by Taylor Sheridan and showrun by Spencer Hudnut (SEAL Team), shifts Kayce from the Dutton family ranch to an elite unit of U.S. Marshals, blending cowboy grit with federal firepower in a fresh chapter of the Sheridan-verse. With Grimes leading a stacked cast including Gil Birmingham, Mo Brings Plenty, and Brecken Merrill reprising their roles, the series promises the moral ambiguity and high-octane action that made Yellowstone a cultural juggernaut.

In Y: The Marshal, Kayce Dutton leaves the Yellowstone Ranch behind to join a specialized group of U.S. Marshals protecting Montana’s vast frontiers. Drawing on his Navy SEAL training and ranch-hardened instincts, Kayce navigates the psychological toll of law enforcement while balancing family ties and duty. The logline teases: “Kayce combines his skills as a cowboy and Navy SEAL to bring range justice to Montana, where he and his teammates must confront the high cost of being the last line of defense in a region at war with violence.” It’s a natural evolution for the character, who grappled with legacy and loss in Yellowstone‘s final seasons, selling most of the family land to Thomas Rainwater (Birmingham) while clinging to his principles.

Grimes, 45, whose portrayal of Kayce earned him a 2023 Emmy nod for Outstanding Supporting Actor in a Drama Series, expressed excitement about the expansion. “Kayce’s always been about finding purpose amid chaos,” he told Deadline at the TCA Winter Press Tour. “This lets him step into a new arena—still the same guy wrestling with his demons, but now with a badge and a broader battlefield.” Returning cast includes Birmingham as the Broken Rock chief Rainwater, Mo Brings Plenty as Mo, and Merrill as Kayce’s son Tate, ensuring continuity from the flagship. New additions like Logan Marshall-Green (And Just Like That…) as Pete Calvin, a grizzled marshal with a shady past, and Arielle Kebbel (Ballers) as Belle, a sharp-shooting colleague, promise fresh dynamics.

Sheridan’s signature style shines through: sprawling Montana landscapes, moral gray areas, and family as the ultimate anchor. Hudnut, who penned the pilot, brings SEAL Team‘s procedural polish, focusing on the “high psychological cost” of marshaling in a lawless frontier. Early footage, screened at Paramount’s upfronts, depicts Kayce tracking a cartel smuggling ring through snowy passes, his SEAL precision clashing with cowboy code. “It’s Yellowstone meets Justified,” Hudnut said. “Kayce’s not a superhero—he’s a father, a husband, a man haunted by choices.”

The series arrives amid Yellowstone’s expansion frenzy: The Madison with Michelle Pfeiffer, The Four Sixes starring Demi Moore, and 1944 with Harrison Ford. Y: The Marshal marks Sheridan’s first CBS venture, airing Sundays at 9 p.m. ET starting March 1, 2026, before streaming on Paramount+. “CBS gives it that broadcast energy—family viewing with edge,” CBS Entertainment president Amy Reisenbach noted.

For Grimes, it’s a full-circle moment. “Kayce started as the quiet Dutton,” he reflected. “Now he’s leading his own charge.” With Yellowstone’s finale fresh in minds, Y: The Marshal ensures Kayce’s arc endures—not in shadows, but under the big Montana sky.