Yellowstone jump-started a generation-spanning story that has so far spawned four spin-offs that are all interconnected by the Dutton bloodline. While creator Taylor Sheridan has since branched outside that saga with Tulsa King, Landman, Mayor of Kingstown, The Madison, and Lioness, he’s made a point of casting his projects with familiar faces. One of his repeat collaborators recently echoed what other actors have been saying across the Sheridanverse — all expressing a strong desire to reprise the role that cemented their place in the franchise. Speaking with MovieWeb, Lioness star Dave Annable mused over his pivotal role in Yellowstone as the heir apparent to the Dutton dynasty. As John Dutton’s eldest son and right-hand man, Annable’s Lee Dutton seemed set to become a central figure in the series, but Sheridan had an entirely different plan. Lee died in Yellowstone’s premiere episode, but later appeared in flashbacks and in Kayce Dutton’s vision quest. Asked if he wanted to reprise the role in the same manner in Marshals or Dutton Ranch, Annable said he would be all for that.
“I’m in the car. I’m on the way. I’m growing my beard out. Let’s dye my hair again. I’m ready to rock.”

Dave Annable as Lee Dutton in ‘Yellowstone.’Paramount

Lee Dutton’s early death is one of the most debated plot beats in Yellowstone, yet it undeniably demonstrated Sheridan’s willingness to sacrifice key characters right out of the gate to propel the storyline. Lee’s murder sparked the all-out war between the Dutton Ranch and the Broken Rock Reservation, until both found a shared enemy and common ground. The saga continues in Marshals, Dutton Ranch, and in the upcoming prequel, 1944, offering plenty of opportunities for Annable to reprise his role. Yellowstone offered a glimpse of how Lee could return in the spin-offs, and the actor is keeping his hopes up. “[Yellowstone] was just something that will forever be a special, special job for me,” he added.

Zoe Saldana and Dave Annable as Joe and Neal McNamara in ‘Lioness.’Paramount

In the meantime, Annable plays an integral role in Lioness, as a family man grappling with the dangers of having a wife who lives a double life. As Joe McNamara’s (Zoe Saldana) dutiful husband, Annable’s Neal McNamara has struggled with the emotional strain of being kept in the dark about Joe’s covert operations. Things come to a head in Season 3 when Joe’s war approaches their doorstep, putting their entire family at risk. Whether that strain ultimately breaks their marriage remains to be seen, especially in Season 3’s penultimate episode, where Neal reaches his breaking point.

Annable joins the elite roster of actors who keep reappearing across Sheridan’s shows. LaMonica Garrett, who has so far starred in 1883 and Lioness, compared Sheridan’s casting habit to auteurs like Judd Apatow, the Coen Brothers, Martin Scorsese, and Christopher Nolan, all of whom have a knack for working with their favorite ensembles. James Jordan holds the record with the most number of roles in the Sheridanverse, appearing in Yellowstone, 1883, Mayor of Kingstown, Lioness, and Landman.

Release Date

2018 – 2024-00-00

Network

Paramount Network

Directors

Stephen Kay, Taylor Sheridan, Christina Alexandra Voros, Guy Ferland, John Dahl

Writers

John Coveny, Ian McCulloch