1923 stars Harrison Ford and Helen Mirren jumped at the chance to be co-stars again in the Yellowstone prequel series. Ford and Mirren are set to play Jacob and Cara Dutton in the Yellowstone spinoff 1923. The latest Taylor Sheridan series won't be pair's first time working together, since they collaborated on set of Peter Weir's The Mosquito Coast in 1986, in which they also played a married couple. Ford and Mirren recently recalled their roles on that film and expressed sincere praise for one another, indicating that they appreciated the chance to work together early in their respective careers.
While speaking with Variety, Mirren explains what drew her to the starring role in 1923, stating that her appreciation for the prior Yellowstone prequel had piqued her interest. Speaking for both herself and Ford, Mirren states that the pair "took a leap of faith," trusting Sheridan's vision and their own working relationship, which ultimately paid off. Check out what she had to say below:
"I wasn’t hugely familiar with the whole thing. What interested me about I did see ‘1883,’ and that era of American history has always really fascinated me. The fact that Harrison was going to be involved was very important for me. Both of us committed to it without really reading any scripts. We didn’t really know what we were signing up for — the specifics of what we were signing up for. We had trust in Taylor [Sheridan]’s extraordinary abilities as a writer and we took a leap of faith.”
Jacob And Cara's Marriage Is Unique
While Ford and Mirren portrayed a much more tragic and deeply flawed couple in The Mosquito Coast, 1923 will present a very different pairing. In the Yellowstone prequel series, the bond between Jacob and Cara has been teased as being very much ahead of its time due to their balanced partnership. Despite its time period, 1923 will bring a strong, mature, and equal marriage to life, setting an example for the strong women that Yellowstone fans have come to know well with future generations of the Dutton family.
Based on Mirren and Ford's previous comments, the unique partnership between Jacob and Cara clearly has some basis in the pair's real-life admiration and appreciation for one another, which is a promising indicator of the pair's on-screen chemistry and the show's potential for immersion. In addition, Jacob and Cara's strong marriage is essential in order for 1923, which has been described as one of the darkest installments in the Duttons' history, to possess a beating heart at its center and keep viewers invested. Even if their characters make questionable decisions throughout the show's run, it's likely that Jacob and Cara's progressive relationship will keep fans of the Yellowstone world rooting for them.
Will 1923 Surpass Yellowstone In Popularity?
Yellowstone has grown immensely since its premiere in 2018, with this year's season 5 premiere becoming the most-watched cable debut in five years. The original Kevin Costner-led show will not be ending with season 5, but Sheridan has made many efforts to expand the series' extended universe beyond the present-day timeline, potentially indicating that he is seeking the next Yellowstone-level hit. It's difficult to predict whether 1923 will be able to outperform Yellowstone thus far, but its star-studded cast and many intriguing teases about the series make the future of the latest Yellowstone prequel extremely promising.
Source: Variety