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Mo Brings Plenty, an enrolled member of the Lakota Nations, was frustrated by the cultural misappropriation he saw on screen until Yellowstone Came along. Thanks to a collaboration with prolific director Taylor Sheridan, Plenty not only landed a role on the hit series as the right-hand man of Broken Rock tribal chief Thomas Rainwater (Jill Birmingham), but was also hired behind the scenes as the show’s American Indian affairs coordinator. A role he now continues on CBS Yellowstone spin off MarshalsWhich follows Casey Dutton (played by Luke Grimes).
Marshals It was a huge success for the network, repeating as the top series – network or streaming – for two consecutive weeks. Below, when chatting about Sunday’s fourth episode of the hit season (it’s already been renewed for a second season), Plenty spoke with Hollywood Reporter About his on-screen role — as Mo (also his character’s name) — and the original input he provided behind the scenes in season one.
He also spoke, for the first time in an interview, about the sudden death of his nephew, Cole Brings Plenty, a star of the Yellowstone franchise who was found dead between seasons one and two of the prequel series. 1923. “For his murder to remain uninvestigated, and for it to be written off as not being a crime, because they didn’t want to invest anything in the crime? It’s heartbreaking,” he says. “We’re not letting go.”
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When were you first approached about being part of Marshals?
I got a call from my team and said, “Sure. If it’s Luke.” [Grimes] And generation [Birmingham] Involved, I’m in. It was easy to keep going with these characters. These are special characters and I wanted to keep them going. I was kind of sad when we finished Yellowstone. These were great guys. And then suddenly, here we are. We are back. It was just great news for me. I was going through the motions in my mind and a happy dance that I didn’t want the world to see (He laughs).
We spoke to star Luke Grimes and director Spencer Hudnut about how they found the right way to reopen Kayce Dutton’s story since Yellowstone It gave it such a nice ending, especially when it comes to your character with the Duttons returning the land to the Broken Rock Reserve. Did you have any hesitation about revisiting that ending?
I had no reservations, especially when I learned that Luke and Jill would be participating. Luke obviously wouldn’t sign up for something that wouldn’t be good for those characters, and for Spencer as well. Having the opportunity to work with him, I can’t say enough good things about him. It’s like I never left. It’s like coming home. I am very grateful for this opportunity to continue his career.
How did you react when you found out that Monica Dutton was the showrunner? [Kayce’s wife, played by Kelsey Asbille] He dies?
child. At first I was like, “Why?!” Because that was our relationship with the Duttons. There has always been a connection between the Dutton family and Broken Rock, but Monica was even more connected. So, to lose that, at first, my reaction was, “No.” But we have to tell a story. And the blessing of it is that Casey now has to fill that void. So that connection is still there. Not only because of the fact that Rainwater adopted him and took him in as a brother, but I think with warriors like Mo and Kayce, that brotherhood has always been there, but it has become stronger.
They could have continued this story without Broken Rock. How happy are you that they went that way?
I’m ecstatic. I’m so grateful that they didn’t leave Broken Rock out of it, that they didn’t leave Indian Country out of it. They can do whatever they want. But if you want classes and diversity, what better way than to integrate indigenous people?
Spencer said Kelsey Asbell was not available to him Marshalsso he was not involved in the talks about not being part of the show. Did you talk to her at all?
You know, no. I didn’t talk to her. I thought about reaching out to her at first. But that was before I discovered that [the plot]. I left her alone. I mind my own business and do my job to the best of my ability.
Spencer said Monica’s death serves two purposes. It’s the focus of the show, but it also highlights something real that happens on the reservations. Did you have any input on this story, or did they come to you with the idea? [Note: Monica died after battling cancer due to toxic levels in the water on the reservation.]
This was already there. And I’m happy that we’ll be able to highlight this, not just through the reservation, but water is life for everyone. And when I say “everyone,” I’m talking from vegetation all the way to the human race. I’m grateful we’re bringing this to light.
I’m sure you were thrilled that Moe would be a character on the show. When they said, “We also want you behind the scenes to help us continue to tell accuracy stories,” how did that conversation go? Their goal was to continue what Taylor Sheridan started Yellowstone in this regard?
I am so filled with gratitude for this opportunity, not only to continue in the role of Mo, but also to be able to continue in the role of American Indian Affairs Coordinator, and to have input into the storylines. There was a time when our celebrations were never hidden. It wasn’t until they were banned that they went into hiding. Then in 1976, when President Jimmy Carter signed the American Indian Religious Freedom Act, he gave us the ability to practice our ceremonial ways again. Over the years I have tried to allow this part to exist in everyday life. We are now bringing different elements to the forefront and showing the world that we, as American Indian people, still have our traditional ways. We still have our way of praying. We still have different things we can do to help us overcome grief and through different aspects that continue to inspire.
Spencer said the mine’s story will continue throughout the season, and there will be other episodes, including when children disappear from the reservations. What are some storylines you contributed to or real changes you made?
You contributed at some point to the grieving process [Monica] For Casey W [son] Tate. I, along with my younger brother, contributed to Moment. It hasn’t aired yet, so I don’t want to describe it yet. It’s a beautiful moment. To be able to contribute in this way – even in songs. My brother writes a lot of songs that we use not only in songs YellowstoneBut also Marshalsthat fits a particular scene we’re going to go to. Being able to keep it going is very important. I’m grateful to Spencer, who was open and understanding. It’s like working with Taylor again. Spencer and I are coming up with ideas that I don’t even want to reveal yet. But there will be some nice things to come.
This week’s episode introduces a potential romantic interest for Kayce. Spencer hinted at exploring new relationships with Kaycee as the season progresses. How will the show, even as it continues into Season 2, continue to honor the essence of Monica and Kayce? Yellowstone husband?
What Casey and Monica had, that relationship, will continue. That relationship was strong. It wasn’t just about husband and wife. It was also a connection between the Duttons and Broken Rock. I feel like Ryanwater and Mo will be able to continue this relationship and build on what they have established. Monica was a strong warrior. You made great sacrifices to protect people. So jump back in Yellowstone With the person who was the rapist, Monica set it up. She was the bait, so to speak, and was able to help catch that person. Her spirit will always remain.
Yellowstone Skeletons chase Cayce. His family’s sins were a big part of these early episodes. Spencer said Yellowstone He will continue to be a part of this show. How would you say the Dutton name still looms over Kayce, or will he be able to step out of the shadows?
I think Kayce is such a great person that the Dutton family will eventually exist in his shadow. I think he’ll crawl out from under his family’s shadow, and cast his own shadow. He is a strong person, a great warrior. Bottom line. But he thinks differently. He has A different mind. So I think he’ll be able to choose his own place, not staying in the shadow of the Dutton family.
How big a role will Mo play as the season continues? Anything you can tease?
People will be able to see more of my personality. Just about who he is to people, to Broken Rock. We filmed the first season. I have no idea [beyond season one]. It’s entirely up to the writers. I would like to hope that the character grows more. I respect every decision that is made, and I respect the story. It’s about the audience. It’s not about my personality.
I was so sorry to hear about your nephew, Cole brings a lot. [who died in 2024 at age 27]And I want to share my condolences with you and your family. He had a nice role in 1923. Is there anything you’d like to say to honor him?
definitely. It was our future. He knew our celebrations. I was getting to know him more and more, and so was my brother, his father. He was my nephew, but he was like a son to me. That his murder would not be investigated, and that it would be written off as “not a crime,” because they didn’t want to invest anything in it? It’s heartbreaking. Because we pay taxes for people too. So for them to not work for us, no different than how they work for anyone else, is very sad.
I hope we continue to talk about that in our stories — that there are a lot of families like mine that are going through this right now, and we still have a lot of unanswered questions. Because I saw his body, I saw the evidence that someone had captured him. So for them to say there was nothing, I can’t believe it. I still can’t.
I didn’t know that. Not much has been released about that.
The departments did not put much effort into this. In fact, they weren’t even looking for him. They were chasing him. They did not search for him. They were chasing him until the day my good friend and I chartered a helicopter and reported it to the Lawrence Police Department [in Kansas] That we would go and look from the air, and on that day, they were out in full force.
Is there anything you still do to get some justice for him?
Just spread the message. We’ve had conversations with several different people. We don’t let it go. It was a huge loss for us because this person spoke our language, sang our songs and continued our traditions. It was the future for us. We want more and more of our young people to be inspired to learn about our identity from a cultural perspective.
You have a huge audience on Marshals. I’m sure you’ve seen the reviews and early renewal. Will you add some of this to the story?
I hope so. We’ve already touched on this, and if it wasn’t for Casey being with the US Marshal, it would have been over to show the importance of working together. And how important that is and how important that is and how beneficial that is for families.
Taylor Sheridan has created a great platform to tell these stories. Since I’ve been in that role ever since Yellowstone Starting out, do you feel like you’ve seen more or fewer others doing the same thing?
I think Taylor was a catalyst for more people having the courage to tell those stories. And I’m grateful for that.
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Marshals New episodes air at 8pm on CBS.
