Yellowstone prequel series 1923 will feature present-day characters, says spinoff star. The upcoming prequel series created by Taylor Sheridan will introduce a new chapter in the Dutton family's saga, bringing in Harrison Ford as Jacob Dutton and Helen Mirren as Cara Dutton. Set 40 years after the previous Yellowstone spinoff 1883, the show is set in the 1920s and has been described as one of the darkest Yellowstone stories yet due to the many hardships the family will face in that time period to keep their homestead. The trailer for 1923 teased connections to the prequel with a shot of the family's graveyard as well as including other small easter eggs that link it to the past and future installments in the Yellowstone franchise.
1923 is set to introduce many new faces into the Yellowstone extended universe, including Sebastian Roché as the headmaster at the School for American Indians in Montana, Father Renaud. During a conversation with Variety at the red carpet premiere of 1923, Roché offered a surprising tease, stating that the prequel series will include "certain characters who are now members of the present-day ‘Yellowstone’ family." In addition, Roché explained what sets the upcoming spinoff apart from the previous prequel 1883, calling it a story of "survival." Check out what the actor had to say below:
“We’re going to see people who we didn’t know about come into the universe and we are going to recognize certain characters who are now members of the present-day ‘Yellowstone’ family. In ‘1883,’ you saw the genesis of the Dutton family. This is the survival of the family.”
Which Yellowstone Characters Could Appear In 1923?
Roché's comments imply that characters from Yellowstone, set in the present day, may show up in the prequel series despite 1923 being set nearly a century before the modern series. If that is the case, perhaps Yellowstone patriarch John Dutton III (Kevin Costner)'s father John Dutton Jr. (Dabney Coleman) could appear as a young child in 1923. It's also possible that Tim McGraw and Faith Hill's James and Margaret Dutton from 1883 could appear in flashbacks in the upcoming prequel series.
1923 Completes The Seven Generations Of The Dutton Family
Based on Roché's comments and the marketing for the upcoming series, it's clear that 1923 will work to pay tribute to the other properties in the Yellowstone universe while also setting itself apart with a different tone and new stories. One link between 1923 and 1883 came in the form of Elsa Dutton (Isabel May)'s voiceover in the 1923 teaser, in which the deceased character spoke about the family's history with violence. Elsa, as the daughter of James and Margaret, is part of the Duttons' second generation.
Since the 1883 ending contained a warning about the Dutton family losing their land after seven generations of ownership, it may not bode well for the present-day as 1923 is set to complete the family tree. With the 1923 cast as the third generation and John Dutton Jr. as the fourth, John Dutton III is the fifth, his children the sixth, and his grandson Tate (Brecken Merrill) the seventh. However, Darren Mann's Jack Dutton in 1923 could be the key to changing what is known about the Dutton family tree, revealing John Dutton III's kids are actually the seventh generation and the end is closer than previously thought. When 1923 premieres December 18 on Paramount+, the fate of the Dutton ranch could finally be made clear.
Source: Variety