Yellowstone Prequel Now Completely Canceled?
The Yellowstone universe continues to suffer as prequel series 1923 is delayed due to the writers strike.
The second season of the Yellowstone spin-off, 1923, has been delayed indefinitely due to the ongoing Writers Guild of America strike. Filming was scheduled to begin on June 5 in Montana. According to Deadline, Butte Civic Center manager Bill Melvin was contacted by the production team, who told him that work on the series had been postponed.
Melvin says Paramount+ is paying a monthly fee of $75,000 to use the Civic Center in 2023. However, the production team has requested a 10-day contract extension and may ask for more time as the strike continues. Another factor to consider is a strike by the Screen Actors Guild, who voted in favor of such action if negotiations with the Alliance of Motion Picture and Television Producers fail.
The second season of 1923, a prequel to Yellowstone, is poised to wrap up the story. The show follows the Dutton family a hundred years before the events of the flagship series. The plot focuses on Jacob and Cara, chronicling their lives during a turbulent era in American history, characterized by Western expansion, pandemics, drought, the Great Depression, and the end of Prohibition.
Along with Harrison Ford and Helen Mirren as Jacob and Cara Dutton, the cast of 1923 boasts an ensemble of skilled actors. The lineup includes Darren Mann, Michelle Randolph, James Badge Dale, Marley Shelton, Brian Geraghty, Aminah Nieves, Julia Schlaepfer, Jerome Flynn, Jennifer Ehle, Robert Patrick, Sebastian Roché, and Timothy Dalton.
Ford, known for his portrayal of the charismatic Han Solo in the Star Wars franchise, previously discussed his decision to join the cast of the Yellowstone prequel. Describing the project as one of his most ambitious endeavors, the actor said, “Working with exceptionally talented actors and actresses has been a joy. We have the technical capabilities and the aspiration to shoot this series like a feature film.”
He also explained his desire to take on the leading role of Jacob Dutton, citing the opportunity to collaborate with Helen Mirren as a major draw. “There was no script when we agreed to be part of it. One of the main attractions for me was the chance to work with Helen again,” Ford said, referencing their previous work on the 1980 movie The Mosquito Coast.
Meanwhile, the fifth season of Yellowstone, set to premiere on the Paramount Network in November, will mark the conclusion of the series. Several reports indicate conflicts between Kevin Costner and the production team over scheduling for the remaining episodes, ultimately leading to the actor’s departure from the show.
Despite Paramount Network President Keith Cox’s initial optimism about Costner’s continued involvement in Yellowstone, the studio decided to end the series. Instead, Paramount has opted to give precedence to a sequel series. Chris McCarthy, CEO of Showtime/MTV Entertainment Studios, previously expressed his unwavering belief in the new project.
Additionally, McCarthy is confident that the new Yellowstone sequel will achieve tremendous success due to the creativity of Taylor Sheridan and the talented actors who bring his vision to life on screen. “Yellowstone has been the cornerstone on which we launched an entire universe of global hits, and I am confident our sequel will be another big hit, thanks to the brilliant mind of Taylor Sheridan,” he said.
The upcoming series is scheduled to premiere on Paramount+ in December. While it hasn’t received an official title yet, reports suggest that it will incorporate Yellowstone in its name to signify its direct link to the original series. Specifics about the plot and casting are being kept under wraps, but it was previously disclosed that Matthew McConaughey had been linked to the project.
