Saddle up, Yellowstone fans—the Dutton family saga isn’t slowing down. Paramount+ has officially confirmed 1944, the next prequel series set to follow the events of 1923 and explore the turbulent years leading into World War II.

As Spencer Dutton mourns the devastating loss of Alexandra and faces life as a single father, and Elizabeth Dutton carries her unborn child far from the ranch, the stage is set for a generational battle that could finally answer the burning question: Who is the true grandfather of Kevin Costner’s John Dutton III?

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Spencer & Alexandra’s Baby: The Heir to the Yellowstone Legacy?

The 1923 Season 2 finale left fans shattered when Alexandra died after giving birth to a premature baby boy, named John in honor of Spencer’s late brother. That child—if he survives—could be the true ancestor of today’s John Dutton III.

If 1944 leaps forward two decades, viewers may see Spencer raising his son under the watchful care of Jacob and Cara. Haunted by Alexandra’s death, Spencer must not only be a father but also defend the ranch as new threats emerge in an America reshaped by war.

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Elizabeth’s Exit: A Second Dutton Line Emerges

Elizabeth Dutton’s departure from the ranch, pregnant with Jack’s child, created another mystery. Actress Michelle Randolph hinted that Elizabeth’s story is far from finished: “She’s more of a Dutton than ever before.”

Her child could rival Spencer’s son as the rightful heir to the ranch—potentially sparking a generational conflict that reshapes the Dutton family tree. Fans have long speculated whether Elizabeth’s bloodline, not Spencer’s, leads directly to John Dutton III. 1944 may finally solve the puzzle.

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Teonna Rainwater’s Legacy: The Rise of a Parallel Dynasty

Beyond the Duttons, Teonna Rainwater’s survival in 1923 carried enormous significance. Actor Aminah Nieves suggested Teonna may already be pregnant with Pete Plenty Clouds’ child. If true, her descendants could become the direct ancestors of modern-day Chief Rainwater, drawing a parallel legacy that runs alongside the Duttons.

In 1944, Teonna’s journey could intertwine with the land, culture, and resistance that remain at the heart of the Yellowstone ranch’s ongoing conflicts.

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Who Is John Dutton III’s True Grandfather?

Taylor Sheridan has kept fans guessing through 1883 and 1923, and 1944 may finally reveal the truth. Is it Spencer and Alexandra’s baby John? Elizabeth and Jack’s child? Or will Sheridan twist the story yet again, adding another hidden branch to the Dutton bloodline?

Even the cast has admitted they don’t know—and Sheridan seems determined to keep fans in suspense.

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What to Expect in 1944

• Spencer raising his son while navigating grief, war, and the burdens of the Dutton name.

• Elizabeth reemerging with her child, fighting for her place in the Dutton family legacy.

• Teonna Rainwater’s rise, laying the foundation for the modern Rainwater lineage.

• The ranch under siege again, this time against the backdrop of World War II.

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Final Thoughts

1944 isn’t just another chapter—it’s a reckoning. As war looms and the Dutton family splinters, Sheridan’s new prequel will finally confront the unanswered mysteries of the Yellowstone family tree.

One thing is certain: the Duttons’ greatest battles aren’t behind them—they’re just beginning.