The next Yellowstone prequel series has been retitled 1923 to better reflect the time period it will take place in. The series was previously called 1932 and recently cast Harrison Ford and Helen Mirren as the leads. It will follow the first Yellowstone prequel series, 1883, which was the most-watched series ever on Paramount+ globally. 1883 focused on the Dutton family as they made their way to Montana and established the Yellowstone ranch, which becomes a decades-spanning property that each generation is tasked with protecting all the way up to the present-day series.
Created by Taylor Sheridan, Yellowstone is the flagship show of Paramount+, which has invested heavily in the showrunner's brand since finding tremendous success with each new season of the series. Sheridan's The Mayor of Kingstown with Jeremy Renner has already been renewed for a second season there, and Yellowstone season 5 is currently filming with a debut set for November 13. Sylvester Stallone will appear in Sheridan's Tulsa King on that same date, while numerous other shows from the creator are also in the works, including a follow-up to 1883 (with a new lead character) and the newly-changed 1923, which will continue to peel back the layers of the Dutton family legacy.
The Paramount Network made the title change announcement on Monday, citing the main reason as adjusting it to better fit the time period the prequel will take place in, which will account for the end of WWI in 1918 and the start of prohibition in 1920; these events are said to be woven into the story of 1923. In addition to the title change, some new details were revealed about the show's focus, which will be the Dutton family's "next two generations as they struggle to survive historic drought, lawlessness and prohibition, and an epidemic of cattle theft; all battled beneath the cloud of Montana’s great depression, which preceded the nation by almost a decade." It was also revealed that 1923 is expected to debut in December, following on the heels of Yellowstone season 5 later this year.
No details have been revealed as to who Ford and Mirren will be playing, but it's assumed they will both be Duttons, although it's unclear if they'll be a married couple or have some other relationship altogether. Outside of a few appearances in random TV shows in his early days, Ford has stuck to feature films throughout his career, but that appears to be changing. The actor has also signed on to star in the Apple TV+ series Shrinking with Jason Segal, where he will play a therapist in the field of Cognitive Behavioral Therapy. Mirren is no stranger to TV either, having starred in multiple series, mini-series, and TV movies throughout her long career.
The title change of 1923 feels of little consequence overall and just a better fit historically for the story Sheridan is trying to tell. Ford and Mirren will make for a captivating onscreen duo, taking in their considerable talent and presence. It will be interesting to see how they flourish under the direction of Sheridan, who has pulled out some of Kevin Costner's best work with the main Yellowstone series. With veterans like Stallone in Tulsa King and Ford/Mirren in 1923, Sheridan is injecting these projects with some classic dream casting, making his spinoffs, prequels and new shows into can't-miss streaming events.
Source: Paramount Network