Taylor Sheridan’s “Yellowstone” universe has been growing at an exponential rate for years — and so has the Dutton family tree. With all of the prequels and spinoffs, fans have been introduced to a number of Duttons from various generations. As we wait with anticipation for the the next “Yellowstone” prequel, “1944,” here’s what we know so far about how all the members of this TV ranching family are related.
‘Yellowstone’ Prequels ‘1883’ and ‘1923’ Featured the Montana Settlers
The first prequel “1883” told the story of the Dutton generation that moved west from Tennessee and settled on the Montana land that became the Dutton ranch. Tim McGraw’s character was the ancestor of Kevin Costner’s John Dutton from “Yellowstone.” But there is a mystery about whether or not he was John’s great-grandfather or great-great grandfather. And that’s because of the events that took place in “1923.”
In that prequel, there were two pregnancies and one birth. Both babies have the potential to be the dad of the current-day John Dutton. Jack and Elizabeth were expecting, while Spencer Dutton and his wife Alex welcomed a son named John in the season 2 finale. But that name wasn’t a confirmation of the Dutton family lineage.
The Dutton Family Tree Heading Into ‘1944’ Is Unclear
“Yellowstone” fans will recall that Costner’s character is John Dutton III, who was born in April 1959. The late Dabney Coleman played his dad, John Dutton Jr., in season 2. But there was no mention of John Jr.’s parents.
If Spencer and Alex’s son John is Dabney’s character known as John Jr., then McGraw’s character James in “1883” is the great-great-grandfather of Costner’s John. But if Jack and Elizabeth’s baby ends up being the character that Dabney played on “Yellowstone,” then McGraw’s character is the great-grandfather of Costner’s John Dutton.
This is because Spencer Dutton is Jack’s uncle, so he is one generation older.
“Is the door is still open? I don’t know. And so, like, you can’t confirm then, like, it could go either way. I feel like everyone has their own theory, but I can confidently say that it’s not confirmed,” Elizabeth actress Michelle Randolph told CinemaBlend.
When Will the ‘Yellowstone’ Prequel ‘1944’ Premiere?
Thanks to the voiceover at the end of “1923,” the next prequel in the “Yellowstone” saga, “1944,” is expected to feature an older Spencer Dutton and the young adult version of the character Coleman played in the flagship series.
An official cast list has yet to be revealed, and production has not yet started. This means that a release date has not been announced. The bad news is, it could be a while before fans get the story of the next Dutton generation.
That’s because there is no guarantee this prequel will happen. Sheridan is busy with shows like “Tulsa King,” “Landman,” and “Mayor of Kingstown.” Plus, he has “Yellowstone” adjacent series in the works for Kelly Reilly (Beth Dutton) and Cole Hauser (Rip Wheeler), and a CBS procedural for Luke Grimes (Kayce Dutton). There’s also the new spinoff “The Madison” starring Michelle Pfeiffer.
Sheridan’s plate is full, so it’s not clear how soon he could get “1944” on our screens. Fans will just have to wait to hear from Sheridan himself.
“Yellowstone” is now streaming on Peacock. The rest of the Sheridanverse is streaming on Paramount Plus.
Comments
Yellowstone Prequel 1944: The Dutton Family Tree Explained