‘Yellowstone’ prequel ‘1944’ still in development at Paramount

‘1944’ still – Three years after it was first announced, Taylor Sheridan’s next Yellowstone-era chapter, “1944,” is still moving through development at Paramount, with details remaining thin. While production keeps pushing forward across the ever-expanding Sheridan-verse, fa

When “Yellowstone” first broke out, it felt like a fluke. A hit, sure—but not something that would spiral into a whole era-by-era empire. And yet that’s exactly what happened: the Dutton family saga has kept widening. from “1883” to “1923. ” and into the spinoff “Marshals” and “Dutton Ranch. ” each adding its own layer to the Sheridan-verse.

Now, as the franchise continues to bookend different moments in American history, the next thread is still alive. “1944,” a follow-up to “1923,” is reportedly still in development at Paramount. The update comes three years after it was first announced in 2023, with details still scant.

The information has been tied to Madd Webb Mitovich, who has heard from someone at the studio that “1944” remains under development at Paramount. That’s not a green light, and it’s not a release date—just confirmation that the project hasn’t quietly slipped away.

What keeps this so discussable is what “1944” could mean for the franchise’s timeline. The story would follow “1923. ” which already threaded forward from earlier roots into the era that viewers recognize as the start of the Dutton story’s modern tensions. With “1944,” the possibilities multiply: one path is continuing the life of Spencer Dutton, played by Brandon Sklenar. Another is looking backward and tracing earlier family lines—John Dutton’s direct history in the 1940s.

It’s also the kind of era that invites family-building from a different angle: John Dutton II. the son of Spencer and Alex. father to Kevin Costner’s John Dutton. In 1944, that would make Costner’s character 21, with the added complication of possibly serving in World War II. The franchise’s appetite for conflict and consequence is exactly what makes those decade-specific stakes feel like a natural fit.

Another possibility swirling around the concept of “1944” is Elizabeth Dutton—after her husband’s death. returning to Boston before being pulled back west. with vengeance drawing her into the familiar fight. The Dutton family doesn’t just endure; it moves, breaks, and returns—sometimes dragging whole eras with it.

The broader context matters too, because Sheridan’s television machine hasn’t slowed down. While Taylor Sheridan is leaving Paramount for NBCUniversal in 2028. his shows are still tied to production through the production units on Melrose Avenue in Los Angeles. “1944” may still be in development, but the franchise ecosystem around it keeps producing momentum.

The “Yellowstone” world. for all its sprawl. has proven something important: it doesn’t always need Kevin Costner or the parent series’ central crew to keep audiences locked in. “1883” and “1923” proved the western franchise can run on its own across generations. with star power like Helen Mirren and Harrison Ford in “1923.” Still. “1944” doesn’t necessarily have to replicate that specific casting weight to find an audience—especially with “Marshals. ” the newer television hit that has shown the brand of high-stakes drama can land in the present.

Each current chapter of the universe is set in the present tense in its own way—on-screen stakes. running schemes. and shifting loyalties. “Dutton Ranch” in particular continues to focus on Beth Dutton and the Yellowstone ranch’s top crew leader and fixer. Rip Wheeler. while “Marshals” tops CBS ratings.

The tension for viewers is obvious: everyone can feel the momentum, but nobody knows what “1944” will become. The studio is still developing the next entry, and the timeline is the only thing that feels settled. Beyond that. the Dutton tree is open terrain—every decade offering another chance to reshuffle family loyalties. rivalry. duty. and the central obsession of protecting the Dutton property.

Even the franchise’s long-range options are the kind that fans can’t stop imagining. One intriguing idea floated within the conversation is a 1967-set story featuring a young John Dutton III (Kevin Costner). letting the series explore what the Summer of Love looked like on the Yellowstone ranch. It’s a reminder that the universe keeps turning forward and backward at once—always finding a new era to fight in.

Yellowstone 1944 Taylor Sheridan Paramount 1923 Spencer Dutton Brandon Sklenar Madd Webb Mitovich Dutton Ranch Marshals Beth Dutton Rip Wheeler Kevin Costner