Nearly two years after Yellowstone ended its five-season run, the Dutton family’s story continues through spin-offs, including the CBS procedural Marshals. While the series has already brought back several familiar faces from Kayce Dutton’s past — including his son Tate, Broken Rock chairman Thomas Rainwater, and Rainwater’s trusted ally Mo — there is still room for more meaningful connections to the original series.

Showrunner Spencer Hudnut has been clear about his approach. He wants to draw on Kayce’s rich backstory without simply rehashing storylines that Taylor Sheridan already resolved. With that balance in mind, here are five Yellowstone characters whose returns could add depth, tension, or emotional weight to Marshals without undoing what came before.

1. Cade McPherson (Jake McLaughlin)

Kayce never had many close allies outside his family, which made the introduction of Cade McPherson in Yellowstone’s final season particularly notable. A fellow former Navy SEAL, Cade shared a history with Kayce that the series only began to explore. Marshals has already drawn effectively on Kayce’s military past through series regular Cal and a multi-episode appearance by country singer Riley Green as another former teammate. Bringing Cade into the fold would feel like a natural extension of that thread.

The challenge is practical: Jake McLaughlin currently stars on ABC’s Will Trent. Coordinating schedules would not be simple. Still, a limited guest arc exploring unfinished history between the two SEALs could deliver both action and emotional resonance, giving viewers a deeper look at the version of Kayce that existed before he returned to the ranch.

2. Beth Dutton (Kelly Reilly) — and Possibly Rip

No one delivers a cutting one-liner quite like Beth Dutton. Even a brief appearance on Marshals would inject the kind of sharp, unfiltered energy the procedural sometimes lacks. Beth would almost certainly have strong opinions about how her brother is handling life in Montana, particularly his relationship with Dolly Weaver and the lingering interest her father Tom has in East Camp.

Beth has always been skilled at reading people and situations. A visit could see her immediately sensing trouble that Kayce has overlooked, forcing him to confront uncomfortable truths. And because Beth and Rip Wheeler have long operated as a unit, any appearance by Kelly Reilly would raise the possibility of Cole Hauser tagging along. A joint cameo would give fans a dose of the couple’s familiar dynamic while still serving the current story.

3. Carter (Finn Little)

Carter’s life has taken a dramatic turn on Dutton Ranch, where he remains central to Beth and Rip’s story. Between adjusting to Texas, navigating a possible future with Oreana, and the lingering trauma of recent events, he has plenty on his plate. Yet a return to Montana could still make narrative sense.

Carter has struggled to find his place since the loss of the family’s Montana property. A trip back home might offer perspective, especially given his recent interest in law enforcement. The idea of Carter eventually considering a path toward becoming a U.S. Marshal — even several seasons down the line — is an intriguing long-term possibility. In the shorter term, simply letting him reconnect with Kayce and Tate could provide emotional grounding for a character still searching for belonging.

4. Jamie Dutton Jr. (Recast)

Jamie Dutton’s fate continues to hover over Marshals. Characters reference the unresolved questions surrounding his disappearance, and the shadow of that history inevitably colors how others view Kayce. Rather than bringing Jamie himself back, the more interesting possibility lies with his young son.

Jamie Jr. was born between seasons of Yellowstone and has largely existed off-screen, raised by his mother Christina. The franchise has a history of sudden, permanent losses for female characters. If something were to happen to Christina, Kayce could find himself responsible for his nephew. Watching Tate grow into a protective role toward his younger cousin would give both boys meaningful development and deepen Kayce’s responsibilities as a father figure. It would also keep the complicated Dutton legacy alive in a fresh way.

5. Monica Dutton (Kelsey Asbille)

The revelation in the Marshals premiere that Monica had died of cancer was a quiet gut punch for many fans. Because her death occurred off-screen, viewers never received a proper goodbye. A carefully handled flashback — a previously unseen moment between Kayce and Monica — could offer that closure without resorting to resurrection or undermining the finality of her loss.

Showrunner Spencer Hudnut has not ruled the idea out. When asked about a potential appearance, he noted that it was “definitely not off the table” and acknowledged that seeing the couple together again could feel satisfying. Having previously worked on a series that brought back a deceased spouse in limited form, Hudnut clearly understands how powerful such moments can be when handled with care.

Keeping the Door Open

Marshals has already begun carving out its own identity while still honoring Kayce’s past. The challenge is to deepen that connection without turning the show into a greatest-hits reunion. The five characters above offer different kinds of value: military history, sharp family confrontation, youthful searching, the next generation of Duttons, and emotional unresolved business.

Whether any of them ultimately appear remains to be seen. What is clear is that the world Yellowstone built still has stories left to tell — and Marshals remains one of the most natural places for those stories to surface. Fans will be watching closely to see which familiar faces might still ride back into Kayce Dutton’s life.