Yellowstone-verse is every neo-western fan’s dream franchise, and the spinoffs, especially 1923, are quickly becoming more popular than the main show. Still, 1923 doesn’t bridge the gap between 1883 and Yellowstone, which is why many fans were glad to hear that the movie would be set in 1944. Even though 1944 is a great follow-up to 1923, fans still don’t understand how it fits in with the main show.
1944 is a spinoff of Yellowstone that takes place at the height of WWII. It will be the most important time in the history of the Dutton family and the Yellowstone ranch. The people who lived through the events of 1923 are linked to John Dutton or at least to his father, John Dutton Jr., through the show. 1944 is also the time when agriculture in Montana is booming, so the ranch grows into the multibillion-dollar business shown in the main show.
Even though 1923 broke the record for the most watched premiere on Paramount+, fans are left with more questions than answers, especially about the Dutton family tree. Between 1923 and Yellowstone, a lot of time has passed, like during the Great Depression and World War II. The events of 1944 will show how determined the Duttons are as they face the biggest threats to their lives and way of life and still make it through.
How is 1944 connected to Yellowstone?
1944 is the link between what happened in 1923 and what happened in Yellowstone. It is about how the ranch got back on its feet after the Great Depression. WWII will also be a big part of the show. Like what happened to Spencer in 1923, it is likely that some members of the Dutton family will go to war and the show will show how that affects them and the ranch.
It is interesting to hear how the Duttons made it through some of the worst times in recent history. 1944 will also show how Yellowstone changed from the Wild West to a modern ranch without making big changes to the culture of ranching.
In 1944, The Train Station may have come about as a result of the change from the lawlessness of the Wild West to the modern world. The Duttons will have to deal with the same old enemies who want to take their land and a modernised but ineffective justice system that puts their fate in their own hands.
1944 will also show the group of Duttons, including older versions of the 1923 survivors, who bring the ranch into the modern era. Just 20 years after 1923, Jack, Alexandra, Spencer, and their children will be in charge of the ranch and will have a big part to play.
1944 will also close the gap between the Dutton family in 1923 and John Dutton. In Yellowstone flashbacks, his father, John Dutton Jr., will be in his childhood. We will also find out if the Duttons in Yellowstone are the children of Spencer and Alexandra or Jack and Elizabeth.
In 1944, like in 1923, there will be a lot of focus on women’s roles on the ranch. This is because so many men will be in the army, leaving the ranch with fewer cowboys. So, it will show the best version of cowgirls, with more Dutton women running the ranch.
Will Mathew McConaughey star in 1944?
The Paramount Network hasn’t said anything about 1944’s plot or cast yet, but there have been rumours that Mathew McConaughey may play the main role. There were rumours that Taylor Sheridan, who produces the Yellowstone-Verse, and Kevin Costner, who plays John Dutton, had a fight. This is how McConaughey’s name came up.
McConaughey was reportedly in talks with 101 Studios and Paramount to join the franchise, which was great news for many fans who loved his performance in True Detective. The 6666 Ranch was already in production when the news came out, so it’s not likely that McConaughey will join the cast. Instead, he is most likely to be in 1944.
It is thought that Paramount Network agrees with Sheridan’s choice to keep making Spinoffs instead of focusing on the main show. Because of this, Kevin Costner is likely to leave Yellowstone after the fifth season.
The network hasn’t confirmed McConaughey’s role yet, but it is thought that he will play the lead role as a Dutton in one of the Spinoffs. It is still not clear if he will play an older version of the Duttons from 1923 or a different branch of the family that the show hasn’t shown yet.
Who else will star in 1944?
After the 1944 announcement, there were also rumours that Kurt Russell would join the Yellowstone-Verse. However, this is just a guess. There is no confirmation that the Tombstone actor will work on the 1944 project. Some rumours say that he will be part of a modern-day spinoff that is like The 6666 Ranch.
Changes in makeup and clothes can also make up for a 20-year gap, which could let some stars from 1923 appear in 1944. Brandon Sklenar could play an older version of Spencer Dutton, and Darren Mann could play an older version of Jack Dutton. Aminah Nieves, Michelle Randolph, and Julia Schlaefpfer are all in the same boat.
Yellowstone-Verse has always been led by some of Hollywood’s biggest stars, and 1944 is likely to be no different. It’s likely that a lot of stars will join. After the main show and the spinoffs did well, many big names in the business now look up to the franchise.
Where is 1944 filming?
1944 will be shot at the Chief Joseph Ranch in the Bitterroot River Valley in Montana, just like Yellowstone and 1923. On February 5, 2023, Tom Prince, who is the vice president of 101 Studios, which works with Paramount to make the shows, confirmed where it would be.
Paramount and 101 Studios went to a ceremony to thank the filming in the valley for the money it brought to Montana and the boost it gave to tourism. In his statement, Tom Prince said that more money would be put into the filming location for future spinoffs.
There may also be more buildings on the ranch in 1944 than in 1923, when only the bunkhouse was shown. Because of the lack of workers at the time, women are likely to be in the bunkhouse in 1944, just like they were in Yellowstone. Given the hard times the ranch is going through at that time, brand loyalty will also be a big topic.
Since the main Dutton house is the same in both 1923 and Yellowstone, it is unlikely to change. During this time, agriculture in Montana was booming, so ranching operations grew to keep up. This will also need to be taken into account. Because of this, there will be bigger herds and more tools for ranching.
When will 1944 be released?
1944 hasn’t been given a release date yet, but it’s likely to come out after The 6666 Ranch ends, in 2024 or early 2025. Tom Prince didn’t give any dates for when the Yellowstone prequel would be made. But Paramount put out 1923 less than a year after announcing it, and 1944 could follow the same pattern.
After Yellowstone ends, it’s likely that the second season of 1923 will be the only thing filmed at the Chief Joseph Ranch. That will make room for the movie 1944 to be shot there, so it can come out as quickly as 1923 and The 6666 Ranch.
At the moment, Paramount + depends a lot on how well Yellowstone and its spinoffs do, which is why most of the shows are coming out so quickly. The network will probably release 1944 while interest in the franchise is still high to build on the success of 1923.
