The Yellowstone universe is heading into war. Taylor Sheridan’s next chapter, 1944, will carry the Dutton legacy into one of the most turbulent eras in world history — and judging by early details and the first trailer tease, it’s shaping up to be the franchise’s most emotionally charged installment yet.

Set twenty-one years after the events of 1923, the new prequel finds the Duttons tested like never before, as World War II collides with the unyielding spirit of Montana’s most resilient family. Production begins in late 2025, with the premiere slated for 2026 on Paramount+.

---

A Patriarch Forged by Tragedy

At the center of 1944 stands John Dutton II, the future father of Kevin Costner’s modern-day patriarch, John Dutton III. Portrayed as a young man haunted by loss, John II carries the emotional weight of generations before him. He is the son of Spencer Dutton (Brandon Sklenar) and Alexandra, whose tragic death from frostbite shortly after childbirth left scars that would shape the Dutton dynasty for decades.

Sheridan reportedly describes John II as “a Dutton shaped by tragedy,” a man torn between the responsibilities of his family’s ranch and the ghosts that linger in its fields.

And those ghosts may not be purely metaphorical. Julia Schleeper, who played Alexandra in 1923, has hinted that she may return in spectral form — appearing as a haunting reminder of the family’s lost matriarch. This ethereal presence would mark a bold creative shift for Sheridan, fusing Western realism with a touch of mysticism.

---

War Comes to Yellowstone

Unlike previous Yellowstone prequels, 1944 expands its scope beyond the ranch to the global stage. As the world plunges into war, the Dutton family faces impossible choices.

Whether John Dutton II is drafted or left behind to defend his homeland, the ripple effects of World War II reach deep into Montana’s heart. Sheridan’s script reportedly alternates between scenes on the frontlines and moments on the home front, drawing parallels between national sacrifice and personal survival.

For the first time, the Yellowstone ranch itself becomes a battlefield of moral consequence — a test of endurance, loyalty, and faith as “the world comes for Yellowstone,” as Sheridan teased during a Paramount event earlier this year.

---

Familiar Faces, New Blood

Returning to the saga is Brandon Sklenar as an older, battle-hardened Spencer Dutton. The father-son dynamic between Spencer and John II will drive much of the show’s emotional weight — two men united by blood, but divided by trauma and differing visions of what the Yellowstone legacy should mean.

Adding to the intrigue is the long-rumored casting of Kurt Russell, who is reportedly in talks to join the series as a distant Dutton cousin or surrogate patriarch. Sources suggest his character could arrive in Montana to help the family navigate the chaos of war, bringing gravitas, wisdom, and a classic Western toughness to the story.

Russell’s potential casting has electrified fans online, with many calling it “the perfect Sheridan move” to bridge the generational gap between 1923 and Yellowstone.

---

The Bridge Between Past and Present

If 1883 captured the Duttons’ journey to Montana and 1923 chronicled their survival through the Great Depression, 1944 looks set to explore how the family defended their land during humanity’s darkest hour.

Sheridan has hinted that the series will “connect the founding myth to the modern curse,” laying emotional groundwork for the ruthless devotion to land and legacy seen in the original Yellowstone.

Themes of sacrifice, duty, and generational trauma will run deep, as the Duttons learn that every inch of their empire was paid for in blood.

---

A Legacy Reforged in Fire

Yellowstone 1944 promises to be both sweeping and intimate — a story of war, loss, and the unbreakable spirit that defines the Dutton name. With a stellar cast led by Brandon Sklenar and the potential addition of Kurt Russell, this latest prequel could bridge the emotional distance between the past and present like never before.

When 1944 rides onto screens in 2026, it won’t just expand the Dutton timeline — it may redefine the very soul of the American West.