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‘Yellowstone' spinoff among new Utah film productions approved under tax incentive program
The Capitol in Salt Lake City is pictured on Thursday, April 10, 2025. (Photo by Spenser Heaps for Utah News Dispatch)
Four new film productions are headed for Utah and will receive a tax credit under the state's film incentive program, including a 'Yellowstone' spinoff and a new season of 'The Secret of Skinwalker Ranch.'
That's according to the Utah Film Commission, which made the announcement on Friday. The four productions will generate an estimated economic impact of about $57.4 million and more than 380 jobs, with filming set to take place in Salt Lake, Summit, Wasatch and Uintah counties.
The 'Yellowstone' spinoff — titled 'Y: Marshals' — is the latest addition to the popular series that drew millions of viewers and was partly filmed in Utah. But after filming three seasons in the Beehive State, the production packed up and relocated to Montana, where it was offered a better tax break. That loss contributed to lawmakers expanding the state's film incentive for rural productions.
'Y: Marshals' will star Luke Grimes as Kayce Dutton, continuing the arc of his 'Yellowstone' character as a member of the U.S. Marshalls. Production will begin in Summit County this fall, and the show has a $52 million budget.
'Utah is such a draw for film and television because of its diverse landscapes, fantastic crews, and amazing, knowledgeable film office,' said Adam Morra, vice president of planning and finance for Paramount Global, in a statement. 'There is no doubt, though, the film incentive is a vital and necessary part of the package.'
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The seventh season of 'The Secret of Skinwalker Ranch' will also receive a tax credit under the state's rural film incentive program. Focused on the notorious Skinwalker Ranch in Uintah County, the History Channel show follows researchers who explore the ranch's reported paranormal activity. It has a $3.2 million budget.
Filmed in Wasatch and Summit counties with a $1.8 million budget, 'Keep Coming Back' is the third production to receive incentives under the state's rural film program. It's an independent film from director and producer Mark Rosman, who said the tax incentives, experienced film crews and proximity to Los Angeles made Utah a draw.
'When it came to picking a state to shoot the film, it was natural to look at Utah,' Rosman said in a statement.
And the new competition show 'Freshman Inventors' will receive a rebate under the Utah Community Film Incentive Program. With plans to film in Salt Lake County with a $300,000 budget, the Netflix show highlights Gen Z inventors.
The Utah Motion Picture Incentive Program currently offers a refundable tax credit up to 25% for funds spent in the state, with different sums of money set aside for productions that meet certain criteria. The rural film incentive — which 'Y: Marshals,' 'The Secret of Skinwalker Ranch' and 'Keep Coming Back' qualified for — sets aside $12 million per year for projects that spend at least 75% of production days in a rural county.
The community film incentive program is a 20% post-performance cash rebate for projects that originate in Utah. It's aimed at helping smaller productions with budgets between $100,000 to $500,000, and is meant to promote up-and-coming local filmmakers, according to Utah Film Studios.
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