Taylor Sheridan might just give John Dutton III a backstory—and fans are already buzzing about it
Yellowstone fans know that nobody does a prequel quite like show creator Taylor Sheridan. The Yellowstone story began with the original Kevin Costner-led series, and so captivating was the story of the Dutton family that many wanted to know what led to him becoming the man he was. 1883 gave us our first deep dive into the lore and history of the Dutton family, introducing characters like James Dutton, played by Tim McGraw, Margaret Dutton, played by his wife, Faith Hill, and Elsa Dutton, played by Isabel May. In its wake came 1923, which followed the Dutton family’s journey in the era of Prohibition and set against the backdrop of the Great Depression. The series starred Helen Mirren as Cara Dutton, Harrison Ford as Jacob Dutton, Brandon Sklenar as Spencer Dutton, as well as Julia Schlaepfer as Alexandra, Michella Randolph as Elizabeth, Aminah Nieves as Teonna and several others.
A quick recap of the ‘Yellowstone’ universe so far
The most recent Yellowstone spinoff, 1923, concluded with a good dose of heartbreak, but promise for what the future holds. By the end of the season, Alexandra, Spencer’s wife, dies during childbirth, leaving him with his son, John. That being said, their son John is John Dutton III’s, played by Kevin Costner, father. The story also concluded for Jack, with his pregnant wife Elizabeth leaving the Dutton Ranch. So, how does the story continue?
Brandon Sklenar, 1923, 2025
‘1944’ is coming—but what follows?
It was officially announced that the next chapter of the Yellowstone story would be set in 1944, set against the backdrop of WWII. At this time, little is known about the casting and plot, but based on the period, fans can assume we will see how the war affects life on the ranch. Because 1923 established that Spencer died in 1969, many are hoping that we’ll see his character return in this next installment—and could there be more after that?
Could there be another spinoff series in between ‘1944’ and ‘Yellowstone’?
Though some might argue that there is such a thing as prequel and spin-off overkill, Yellowstone fans might disagree. The attention-to-detail, world building and intense storylines of the past two prequels prove that Taylor Sheridan is putting just as much work into his spin-offs as he did the original series—and could there be another one coming between the planned 1944 and Yellowstone? Some fans are hoping so!
Some have speculated the possibility of another installment, 1969, though this is ultimately nothing more than wishful thinking. At that point in history, Spencer Dutton will likely have died, as 1923 established that this is the year in which he passed, but fans are also aware that John Dutton III (Kevin Costner) was born in 1955. While 1969 would put him at around 14 years old, many are curious about learning his origin story, as well as diving into his relationship with his father, who was the son of Spencer and Alexandra. Though 1969 is nothing more than conjecture, here’s to hoping for many more years of Dutton stories!
