Marshals Season 2's Major Returning Star Originally Wanted His Yellowstone Character Killed Off

Published Oct 7, 2026, 6:31 PM EDT EXCLUSIVE: One of the Marshals stars admitted that he initially hoped his character would be killed off after the intense season 1 finale aired back in May. Marshals is the third Yellowstone spinoff in the popular Western franchise. Many lives were put in danger during the first-season finale, including Pete "Cal" Calvin and Belle Turek-Skinner, who found themselves being ambushed. The two were growing closer, but the dangers of their jobs ultimately took precedence and nearly cost them their lives. Fortunately, both Cal and Belle survived, as revealed in the recent Marshals season 2 premiere, and their bond continued to develop. While the entire situation ultimately worked out in their favor, it seemed like one or both characters might not make it out alive. In an interview with ScreenRant's Grant Hermanns, Logan Marshall-Green admitted that he had no idea whether his character, Cal, would survive into the second season. At the very least, he believed he would return for one more episode to wrap up his storyline. Interestingly, that's how Marshall-Green approaches all the shows and movies he's been a part of over the years, where he doesn't ask a ton of questions and only seeks out the most important info he needs to know. "Whatever is in front of me, I love just showing up," Marshall-Green explained. "When I get the script...not knowing and feeling those visceral reactions to life, because that's what life is. You don't know what's around the corner." The same holds for Marshals season 2, with the actor not knowing the outcome until he received the script, "and then it was just hold on for dear life." ScreenRant: When you wrapped that ending, what was in your head about what was going to come next for them after those shots rang out? Logan Marshall-Green: "I didn't know. I didn't ask. I knew I had to be back for at least one episode to die if that was going to be the case. [Laughs] But I didn't know, and that's how I approach any TV. There are certainly some things you need to understand, like Roner from last year. I needed to understand what really happened, but that's in the past. So whatever is in front of me, I love just showing up. Obviously, the work is done [to prepare beforehand], when I get the script, showing up to the script, not knowing and feeling those visceral reactions to life, because that's what life is. You don't know what's around the corner. And same went for the first episode of this season. I really didn't know until we got the script, and then it was just hold on for dear life." When he found out that Cal had survived the attack, though, Marshall-Green didn't feel much relief "because I'm used to dying" on screen in various projects over the years. "I've died in every way you can imagine," the actor said, adding that regardless of whether his character lives or dies, the outcome should always be "what's best for the story." So if Cal had died, then that would have upped the stakes for all the other characters on Marshals, which means "no one's safe." ScreenRant: What was your reaction when you saw that you were going to survive? Was there a bit of relief that you were like, okay, I get to explore this character a little more? Logan Marshall-Green: "Actually, in a way, not really, because I'm used to dying. [Laughs] I've died in every way you can imagine, and for me, it's always what's best for the story, and so if Cal were to perish, then that probably puts a lot more stakes on everybody else, and means that no one's safe. So ,I could see a world in which Spencer [Hudnut] got rid of me." Cal will likely find himself in many more dangerous situations in the new season and possibly beyond, so his fortunes could run out at some point. For now, though, Marshall-Green is back on Marshals and starring alongside Luke Grimes, Arielle Kebbel, Ash Santos, Tatanka Means, Brecken Merrill, Mo Brings Plenty and Gil Birmingham, with Jefferson White reprising his Yellowstone character Jimmy Hurdstrom. Kayce Dutton, Rainwater, and others were in major danger during the Marshals season 1 finale. After Tate was taken, Kayce spent the recent premiere doing everything he could to save his son. He was ultimately successful, and Tom Weaver was caught. Now the characters of Marshals will attempt to move forward after undergoing such a treacherous mission. Marshals airs Sundays at 8 p.m. EDT on CBS. Release Date 2026 - 2026-00-00 Network CBS Showrunner Spencer Hudnut Kayce Dutton transitions from life on the Yellowstone Ranch to joining an elite unit of U.S. Marshals in Montana. Merging his cowboy heritage and Navy SEAL expertise, he tackles the challenges of balancing family, duty, and the psychological toll of combating regional violence. Directors Christopher Chulack, Greg Yaitanes Writers Spencer Hudnut, Tom Mularz, Dana Greenblatt Main Genre Western Creator(s) Spencer Hudnut Executive Producer(s) Art Linson, Bob Yari, David Glasser, David Hutkin, Greg Yaitanes, John Linson, Luke Grimes, Michael Friedman, Ron Burkle, Spencer Hudnut, Taylor Sheridan Producers Sandra Nebel Seasons 2