Why 'Yellowstone' spinoff 'Marshals' killed off Monica

Luke Grimes said he was heartbroken when the new spinoff Marshals revealed that Kayce Dutton’s wife, Monica, had died offscreen. He told TVLine he “worked up the courage” to call Kelsey Asbille, and that she “handled it like a pro and totally understood.” Kayce and Monica had been married on Yellowstone.

The series premiere makes Monica’s death a catalyst for Kayce’s new life. Creator Spencer Hudnut said Yellowstone gave the couple a “beautiful” ending and that the show needed to shake up Kayce to get him off the ranch and into a new position. Hudnut also said Asbille was not available to be on Marshals, a comment that left it unclear whether her absence was a scheduling issue or a storytelling choice.

On Marshals, Monica dies of cancer attributed to environmental toxins; Hudnut described the decision as a way to tie the storyline to a real-life issue, to honor the character and to guide Kayce’s journey as he becomes a U.S. Marshal and reconnects with his military roots.

yellowstone, marshals, monica, kayce dutton, kelsey asbille, luke grimes, spencer hudnut, offscreen death, environmental toxins, cancer