While the 1920sYellowstonesaga appears to be over after1923season 2’s finale, at least 10 characters can resurface in Taylor Sheridan’s next Dutton story. Theend of1923season 2closed out the saga for Spencer (Brandon Sklenar) and the rest of Jacob (Harrison Ford) and Cara Dutton’s (Helen Mirren) family. Still,Yellowstonehas another prequel in the works, titled1944.
1944will pick up 20 years after thewinter of 1924. Those who survived1923season 2’s finalecould resurface, and, whether it’s the creative direction Sheridan will head, many actors are willing to return to their roles. While1944’s cast will likely introduce a new group of characters into the mix, as did1923after1883,there’s a chance1944will feature key characters introduced in1923.
10Teonna Rainwater
Teonna Rainwater’s Story Continues After 1923
Teonna Rainwater might appear in1944after her1923ending. The development is likely to occur.Teonna’s1923endinghas direction, with Rainwater presumably heading to California at the advice of Two Spears (Dougie Hall). Still,her return in1944is needed to explain what’s next for Teonna.
Teonna’s return in 1944 could not only reveal what was next for her but also provide further insight into Thomas’ origin.
It’s unlikely that Rainwater’s story is over after1923,sinceTeonna presumably connects to Gil Birmingham’s Thomas Rainwater. The characters share a surname, andThomas’ backstory remains a mystery afterYellowstone’s finale. Teonna’s return in1944could not only reveal what was next for her but also provide further insight into Thomas’ origin.
9Spencer Dutton
Spencer Dutton Lives For 45 Years After 1923’s Ending
Another1923character likely to appear in1944is Spencer Dutton. InSpencer Dutton’s time jump at the end of1923,Elsa Dutton (Isabel May) reveals that Spencer lived until 1969, surviving another 45 years. There are several reasons thatSpencer’s inclusion in1944’s cast fitsYellowstone’s mold.
SinceSpencer Dutton took over the Yellowstone Ranchat the end of1923,he would probably manage it a mere 20 years later. That said, since1944will occur during World War II, the Medal of Honor recipient could return to battle. Regardless,1944could follow Spencer’s war story,parallel to life on the ranch, following the format of1923.
8John Dutton II
Spencer Dutton’s Son Could Be John Dutton II
After a brief introduction inYellowstone,John Dutton II, John Dutton III’s (Kevin Costner) father, would also appear in1944.Yellowstoneseason 2 features Dabney Coleman as the patriarch, shown in a flashback to his death alongside Costner.1944would likely feature John Dutton II, since1923seemingly revealed that Spencer and Alex are his parents.
If Spencer and Alex’s son is John Dutton II, the character will emerge in the prequel. Regardless,Spencer’s son, John, would be about 20 years old in1944,the perfect age to lead the cast. There’s also a chance that Spencer’s son isn’t Coleman’s character, but regardless of who John Dutton II’s parents are, the character will emerge in theDutton family tree’s next generation.
7Spencer Dutton’s Widow
Spencer Dutton’s Second Partner Could Appear In 1944
1944could also feature Spencer Dutton’s widow, introduced at the end of1923.In her narration, Elsa Dutton reveals that while her brother didn’t remarry after Alex Dutton’s death in1923,Spencer was intimate with another woman. That said, we don’t yet know the woman’s name or anything else about her.
Spencer Dutton’s second romantic connection could emerge in1944,with the prequel series possibly showing Dutton’s second romance. That said,it’s also possible that Spencer’s widow is long goneby the time the 1940s roll around, and that he has moved on. That said,1944could feature Spencer’s other son instead.
6Spencer Dutton’s Unnamed Son
Spencer Dutton’s Second Son Could Play A Key Role In 1944
Elsa also reveals in1923’s finale thatSpencer had another child after he and Alex’s baby was born, an unnamed son with his anonymous widow. Along with Spencer and Alex’s son, Spencer’s other son could appear in1944.The development would lead to endless story opportunities, with his kin potentially causing conflict between an older Spencer Dutton.
We know little about Spencer’s son and the unnamed widow. In particular,Elsa Dutton’s narration in1923doesn’t give us any idea of when Spencer takes up another romantic partner. Therefore,we don’t know when Dutton had his second child, or how old his son will be in 1944, leaving his potential role on the Yellowstone Ranch a mystery.
5Elizabeth Dutton
Jack Dutton’s Wife Could Return To The Yellowstone Ranch
While key Duttons didn’t survive the Prohibition Era, one unlikely survivor is Jack Dutton’s (Darren Mann) wife, Elizabeth Strafford (Michelle Randolph).At the end of1923,Elizabeth leaves the Yellowstone Ranch, seemingly putting the Dutton family behind her. That said, as she notes in the finale,Elizabeth is still pregnant with Jack’s baby in 1924.
Yellowstonefans also have a bizarre theory about Elizabeth Dutton, suggesting that she could be the unnamed widow with whom Spencer has another child.
While Cara is convinced that Liz will forget Jack for another man,there’s a possibility that Elizabeth returns in1944.Elizabeth could bring her and Jack’s son to see where his dad grew up.Yellowstonefans also have a bizarre theory about Elizabeth Dutton, suggesting that she could be the unnamed widow with whom Spencer has another child, and that this could be a story in1944.
4Elizabeth & Jack Dutton’s Child
Jack Dutton’s Child Could Return To Meet Spencer Dutton
Especially if the mother returns to1944,we could see Elizabeth and Jack Dutton’s childin the nextYellowstoneprequel. Elizabeth was pregnant with her second child at the end of1923,following a miscarriage in her first pregnancy. While Strafford would likely move on and start anew in the east after1923,her child could return to Montana.
You can stream all of1923seasons 1 and 2 on Paramount+.
In 1944,Elizabeth and Jack Dutton’s child would be about 20 years old. If their child were a boy, he could have been drafted to fight in World War II. Perhaps he wanted to return to Montana after his service, coming to live with his uncle as he grew into adulthood, wanting to learn from the war hero and renowned hunter.
3Jacob Dutton
Jacob Dutton Could Be The Oldest Known Dutton In 1944
While it seems unlikely that, at 100 years old, Jacob Dutton would be in the cast of1944,it’s a possibility.Harrison Ford said that he’s willing to return to the role of Jacob Dutton, emboldening the chance that we haven’t seen the last of Jacob.There are a couple of ways that Jacob could appear in1944,and they’re quite feasible.
If Jacob appears at his present-day age in1944,thenJacob Dutton could be the oldest Dutton in recorded history at 100 years old, and1944could show his death. Alternatively,Jacob could appear in1944in flashbacks. Sheridan used flashbacks throughoutYellowstone,and Ford could also appear in this manner to send the character off.
2Cara Dutton
Cara Dutton Could Still Be Alive In 1944
Helen Mirren has also stated that she’s willing to return to her role as Cara Dutton, and it’s not out of the question for1944(viaThe Hollywood Reporter).Mirren’s prospects are similar to Ford’sin terms of appearing in the next prequel. She could either appear in flashbacks or the titular year as herself, aged about 100 years.
Sheridan could also do aprequel series starring Cara Dutton. The matriarch proved to be a fierce and subversive leader in1923seasons 1 and 2.A prequel series about Cara Dutton would be more excitingthan the character’s return in1944,possibly getting Mirren back into the franchise and shining more light on the Dutton matriarch.
1Alex Dutton
Alex Dutton Could Reappear As A Ghost After Her Death In 1923
While we witnessed Alex Dutton’s death at the end of1923season 2,it isn’t out of the question that Julia Schlaepfer will return as Alex in1944.Spencer actor Brandon Sklenar suggested thatSchlaepfer could return in1944as a ghost, haunting Spencer in a“beautiful”way. Schlaepfer is down with the idea, leaving the door open.
While it may seem a bit ridiculous to think that Alex could return,Alex Dutton’s comeback idea could work. After Elsa Dutton died in1883,Sheridan returned the deceased Dutton to1923as the next saga’s narrator. Alex could receive the same treatment.1923’s ending had already established Spencer and Alex’s ethereal connection.
1923
Cast
1923 is a series following the Dutton family during the early twentieth century. It explores the challenges they face amidst pandemics, the end of Prohibition, historic drought, and the Great Depression, as they struggle to maintain their home in the mountain west.
