Just like its mothership series, 1923 went out with a bang, not a whimper. The Yellowstone prequel managed to draw a major audience for its final episode.
Per Variety, Paramount’s internal streaming data has revealed that the 1923 series finale, «A Dream and a Memory,» delivered 14 million viewers globally in its first seven days of availability, with a view defined as total watch time divided by run time. That is an increase of 41 percent from the Season 1 finale, «Nothing Left to Lose,» which premiered on Paramount+ on Feb. 26, 2023. The average viewership for Season 2 of 1923 also saw an increase of 46 percent compared to Season 1.
Created by Yellowstone franchise creator Taylor Sheridan, 1923 is set decades before the events of the mothership series, introducing audiences to a new generation of Duttons, led by patriarch Jacob and matriarch Cara, portrayed by Harrison Ford and Helen Mirren, respectively. The series follows the fan-favorite family as they attempt to run their ranch while battling many of the era’s most severe problems. Brandon Sklenar, Julia Schlaepfer, Jerome Flynn, Darren Mann, Isabel May, Brian Geraghty, Aminah Nieves, Michelle Randolph, and Timothy Dalton also starred in 1923 across its two seasons.
Next Yellowstone Prequel Will Take Place in 1944
1923 was always envisioned as a two-season story, meaning that a third season is not expected for the Paramount+ drama series. However, Sheridan has already announced the next Yellowstone prequel, 1944. While story details remain under wraps, the upcoming prequel will likely delve into how World War II impacted the Yellowstone Ranch and the Duttons. The series finale of 1923 also introduced Spencer and Alex Dutton’s son, John Dutton II, the future father of Yellowstone protagonist John Dutton III, played by Kevin Costner until his departure in the fifth season. Variety notes that John II would be 21 years old in 1944, making him a natural protagonist for the new series.
There are also at least three further Yellowstone spinoffs in development, which will all be set in the present timeline of the franchise. The first, The Madison, starring Michelle Pfeiffer and Patrick J. Adams, is a standalone extension of the franchise that promises to be «a heartfelt study of grief and human connection following a New York City family in the Madison River valley of central Montana,» according to the series logline.
The other two spinoffs would be direct sequels to Yellowstone, with one centered around fan-favorite couple Beth Dutton and Rip Wheeler, portrayed by Kelly Reilly and Cole Hauser. Unlike the other franchise extensions, this offshoot is expected to carry Yellowstone in the title. The other would focus on Beth’s younger brother, Kayce Dutton, played by Luke Grimes. This spinoff is being developed as a procedural for CBS.
1923 is streaming on Paramount+.
