“Yellowstone” is returning to Utah. Sort of.
A spinoff of the popular TV show, with the working title “Y: Marshals,” will shoot entirely in Utah. The “Yellowstone” series, aired on the Paramount Network, shot most of its first three seasons in Utah before it bolted for Montana. It featured Kevin Costner as John Dutton, leader of a family who controls the largest contiguous ranch in the U.S.
“Y: Marshals” is among four productions approved for film incentives by the Utah Board of Tourism Development at the board’s June meeting. The four are expected to result in combined spending of $57.4 million in Utah and result in a total of 380 jobs in Salt Lake, Summit, Wasatch and Uintah counties.
To air on CBS on Sundays and starring Luke Grimes, “Y: Marshals” will be a law enforcement procedural following the Kayce Dutton character from the “Yellowstone” series as he leaves the ranch to join an elite group of U.S. marshals in Montana.
The production is expected to spend $52 million in Utah, with production in and around Summit County from September through March. It will employ 255 cast and crew and 2,000 extras. The state incentive totals $13 million, to be spread over three fiscal years.
Virginia Pearce, director of the Utah Film Commission, was elated to have a network series, and one of the caliber of “Yellowstone,” back in the state.
“It did a lot for us,” she told the tourism board about “Yellowstone.” “It put us on the map for a lot of projects and a lot of producers that kind of didn’t think of Utah for a big series, so we’ve really been working to try to figure out how to get something like that back.”
As “Yellowstone” did before, the production is expected to use the entirety of Utah Film Studios in Park City, plus ranches in the area.
“It’s a huge show — 255 local cast and crew, lots of extras, lots of hotel rooms. … It’s just a big win for the state,” Pearce said.
Paramount announced in May that “Y: Marshals” will be produced by MTV Entertainment Studios with executive producer Taylor Sheridan along with David C. Glasser executive-producing for 101 Studios, as well as John Linson, Art Linson, Spencer Hudnut, Luke Grimes, Ron Burkle, David Hutkin and Bob Yari. Hudnut will serve as executive producer and showrunner.
“Utah is such a draw for film and television because of its diverse landscapes, fantastic crews, and amazing, knowledgeable film office,” Adam Morra, vice president of planning and finance for Paramount Global, said in a prepared statement. “There is no doubt, though, the film incentive is a vital and necessary part of the package.”
Another incentivized production, one which has never left Utah, is the seventh season of “The Secret of Skinwalker Ranch,” a series airing on History Channel. It follows a team of experts and scientists that undertake research at Skinwalker Ranch in Uintah County, rumored to be a location for paranormal activity and UFO sightings.
The production is expected to spend nearly $3.3 million in Utah, where 93 percent of filming will take place. The rest will be shot in Alabama. The tourism board approved an incentive of up to $488,228. Seventeen cast and crew will be involved in production, taking place during July through November. Producers are Joe Lessard, David Comtois, Jason Shoot and Matt Crocco.
An independent film titled “Keep Coming Back” was approved for an incentive of up to $456,250, based on Utah spending of more than $1.8 million in Utah, where 99 percent of it will be filmed. Shooting will take place September through March in Summit and Wasatch counties and employ 95 cast and crew and 125 extras.
“Keep Coming Back” tells the story of a father and daughter healing their relationship at a Utah drug rehab facility.
“When it came to picking a state to shoot the film, it was natural to look at Utah, given the great tax incentives, the depth of film crews, and the proximity to Los Angeles,” said Mark Rosman, the production’s director/producer.
The pilot for a new competition show titled “Freshman Inventors” was approved for an incentive of up to $60,000, based on Utah spending of $300,000. Mimicking “Shark Tank” and focused on Generation Z inventions of up-and-coming entrepreneurs, the show will stream on Netflix.
Production takes place through August and will involve 15 cast and crew. Producers are Mark Viau and Deborah Von Brod. The director is Jose Iorio.
“Filming in Utah was our first choice since it is so creator-friendly and affordable,” Viau said.
Pearce said the pilot will be shot in Salt Lake City “and then Netflix will then approve them hopefully for a full season.”