Taylor Sheridan’s long-awaited Yellowstone prequel 1944 just got its best news yet

Well, just when you start to think we might finally have reached the end of the Dutton family line on telly, yet another chapter is brewing. The so-called 'Sheridan-verse'—that is, Taylor Sheridan's ever-growing mountain-empire of cowboy sagas—just refuses to die down. I mean, Yellowstone's gone from surprise cable hit to full-on TV juggernaut, spinning out no less than two period prequels (that’ll be 1883 and 1923), with Marshals and Dutton Ranch running alongside it. Stitch in a couple of A-list Hollywood names, a few punch-ups over land rights, and the franchise has managed to keep eyeballs glued for years.

The Next Yellowstone Spin-Off: 1944

So, what’s next for the Dutton family soap opera? Turns out, the much-rumoured 1944 spin-off is still alive, if not exactly galloping into production. According to Matt Webb Mitovich (speaking to someone on the inside at Paramount), '1944' is “still in development”. No smoke and mirrors here—that is basically all Paramount are saying. The show was first mentioned back in 2023 and, for the moment, remains more of a concept than an imminent headline.

Which Dutton Drama This Time?

Now, there’s plenty of speculation about which branch of the family tree we’re climbing for this story. Are we skipping ahead to see what Spencer Dutton (Brandon Sklenar’s character) gets up to twenty years on? Bit of a stretch, considering the timeline. Maybe the spotlight swings over to John Dutton’s own father’s escapades in the 1940s? The most likely option—if you ask me—is John Dutton II. In 1944, he’d be about 21 years old, bang in the middle of World War II. Might even see a bit of battle, before heading back to wrangle cattle in Montana.

There’s another route: perhaps Elizabeth Dutton gets her turn in the limelight, heading back to Boston after losing her husband, only to find herself drawn West again—possibly with a touch of revenge thrown in. I’m not saying it’s plausible, but then, the Duttons have a habit of turning up where you least expect.

Why 1944 Might Be A Breath Of Fresh Air

Unlike its current incarnations, which are stuck firmly in the present day, '1944' would drag everyone back into classic mid-century Western territory. The previous prequels (1883 and 1923) have already shown that the series can hold its own without relying on Kevin Costner, or any familiar faces from the original lineup. Although, let's be honest—it certainly helps to have Harrison Ford and Helen Mirren on board cracking whips and throwing shade.

Then again, the latest outing ('Marshals') has been pulling big numbers on CBS without needing giant film stars chewing scenery—so maybe the franchise is now bigger than any one name.

Yellowstone’s Never-Ending Family Tangle (And Possible Future Plots)

What makes all this continue to work? I’m convinced it’s the sheer sprawl of the Dutton family drama—greed, loyalty, betrayals, battles for the land, all that myth-making Western stuff. With every generation, there’s a fresh batch of crises, feuds, and showdowns. If anything, there’s still miles of unexplored material in the family tree.

• The big idea now: kick down the timeline to 1967, and tell a story about a young John Dutton III (yep, Kevin Costner’s version) growing up during the Summer of Love. Picture the Duttons versus the hippies, tie-dye on horseback, and John Dutton getting absolutely nowhere near a ponytail. It’s either genius or utter madness, and honestly, I’d watch it.

"With every on-air Yellowstone spin-off currently set in the present, 1944 could be a welcome change of pace."

Taylor Sheridan himself might be off to NBCUniversal in 2028, but until then, the Yellowstone universe grinds on—produced out of busy Los Angeles studios and showing no sign of being put out to pasture.