Warning: SPOILERS for 1923 Season 2’s Finale - “A Dream and a Memory”
There are some pretty plausible theories about Taylor Sheridan’s upcomingYellowstoneshows worth getting excited about. After the series finale of1923,five different offshoots of the originalYellowstonehave been teased at one time or another:The Madison,1944,6666,and Beth (Kelly Reilly) and Kayce Dutton’s (Luke Grimes) respective spinoffs of the flagshipYellowstoneseries.
In1923’s series finale, Spencer Dutton (Brandon Sklenar) returns to the Yellowstone Dutton Ranch, defending his aunt Cara (Helen Mirren) and uncle Jacob’s (Harrison Ford) homestead before subsuming control of the family’s legacy. Now that the1923Dutton family has their war with Banner Creighton (Jerome Flynn) and Donald Whitfield (Timothy Dalton) behind them,Yellowstoneaudiences can begin to wonderwhat’s next for Spencer in1944.
Only one of Taylor Sheridan’s upcoming series will be a prequel, making a nice addition to1883and1923.The vast majority ofnewYellowstoneshows will build on the modern neo-Western sagathat Kevin Costner’sYellowstoneseries started. Coming offshoots will, to varying degrees, continue to build on the story ofJohn Dutton’s familyand their connections in Montana and Texas, as these theories suggest.
6Elizabeth Dutton’s Descendants Will Emerge In The Madison
1923 Leaves Elizabeth Strafford’s Story Open-Ended
After1923’s finale, someYellowstonefans believe thatElizabeth Strafford’s (Michelle Randolph) descendants will emergeinThe Madison.The show will exist in the modern era, in the same Montana that Beth and Kayce Dutton live in after their father’s death.The Madison’s storywill follow Michelle Pfeiffer as Stacy Clyburn, who moves from New York to Montana with her family after the death of their patriarch.
Elizabeth’s story is left open-ended in1923’s finaleafter the death of her husband, Jack Dutton (Darren Mann), causes her to leave the Yellowstone Ranch. Elizabeth’s ending means her descendants can emerge in another Taylor Sheridan show. Elizabeth is an East Coast city girl, preferring hubs like Boston and New York City to Bozeman. That trait caused many to believethe Clyburns are Elizabeth’s kin, returning to Montana a century later.
5Alex Dutton Will Return In 1944 After Her 1923 Death
Julia Schlaepfer Is Open To Returning As Alex Dutton
After she died in1923’s finale,Alex Dutton could potentially return in1944to narrate the nextYellowstonestory. Spencer’s older sister,Elsa Dutton (Isabel Mary), has narrated1883and1923,and has a brief monologue in theYellowstoneseries finale. Elsa died at the end of1883,and she continues narrating the Duttons' story after her death, establishing Elsa Dutton’s omniscient, ethereal presence in the franchise.
Alex Dutton could return to Yellowstone after 1923’s finale, which established an otherworldly connection between her and Spencer.
After Elsa’s death, she returned as1923’s narrator, explaining what had happened in the last 40 years. It checked out that Elsa returned in1923,but she has a less robust connection to1944’s story. That said,Alex Dutton could return toYellowstoneafter1923’s finale, which established an otherworldly connection between her and Spencer.Alex could return in1944to guide her husband as a sort of spiritor to narrate the new series instead of Elsa.
4Spencer Will Lose A Leg In World War II In 1944
Spencer Dutton Be A Main 1944 Character
InYellowstoneseason 4, episode 9,John Dutton tells Jimmy (Jefferson White) that his grandfather lost a leg, remarking that the worst pain his ancestor ever felt was in his toes after his limb was gone, calling the sensation“phantom pain.”After Spencer and Alex named their baby John in1923’s finale, it has led many to believe their child is John Dutton II, andSpencer is John Dutton III’s grandfather.
If Spencer is John Dutton’s grandfather, then that means he lost a leg, and the development could definitely happen in the nextYellowstoneprequel.Taylor Sheridan set Spencer Dutton up as a main1944characterin1923’s finale, and manyYellowstonefans believe, though Costner doesn’t say it explicitly, thatSpencer loses his leg in battle.
Considering that1944will pick up amid the events of World War II, it’s quite possible thatSpencer could lose his leg if he returns to fight for his countryagain. Spencer fought in the Great War, earning a Medal of Honor, and so it checks out that Spencer would volunteer to serve his country again. While amputations were less common in World War II than in the Civil War or World War I, this theory is still quite possible.
3Beth & Rip’s Spinoff Will Basically Be Yellowstone Season 6
Beth And Rip Are Yellowstone’s Designated Successors
The buzz about Beth and Rip Wheeler’s (Cole Hauser) spinoff is that theYellowstonepower couple’soffshoot will resemble what would have beenYellowstoneseason 6. After Kevin Costner’sYellowstoneexit, many wondered who would take over, andmost presumed Reilly and Hauser would leadYellowstonepost-Costner. While it’s true that they will carry on theYellowstonestory, Beth and Rip’s continuation will happen in a dedicated series.
While their story will doubtlessly look a bit different from the original,Beth and Rip’s series will have the most crossover withYellowstone.A report fromPucksaid thatBeth and Rip’s show was looking to cast a Kevin Costner-typecharacter, further suggesting their story would resemble the original series. Therefore, Beth and Rip’s spinoff will be the bestYellowstoneshow to tune into for those missing the original series, or at least that’s how the theory goes.
2Kayce Dutton Will Investigate For Montana In His CBS Yellowstone Spinoff
Kayce Dutton Needs A New Job After Yellowstone Season 5’s Finale
Kayce Dutton’s story will also continue outsideYellowstone.John Dutton’s youngest son had a satisfying conclusion inYellowstoneseason 5, selling his family’s land to the Broken Rock Tribe. As such,Kayce retired from his position as livestock commissioner, throwing his badge into a field at East Camp. However, the announcement thatKayce Dutton’sYellowstonecontinuation on CBSwill be a procedural makes me think that John’s son will be investigating in some capacity.
Since Yellowstone doesn’t follow up on the prospect in season 5, I think it will come back around and be the basis for Kayce’s new show.
That said,I think I know what Kayce Dutton’s CBS show is about. InYellowstoneseason 5, episode 3, Kayce asks Thomas Rainwater (Gil Birmingham) for a job. Thomas refuses, for good reason. However,Mo Brings Plenty tells Kayce he could become an investigatorfor the Montana Department of Justice. SinceYellowstonedoesn’t follow up on the prospect in season 5, I think it will come back around and be the basis for Kayce’s new show.
16666 Will Feature Core Yellowstone Ranch Cowboys
Dutton Ranch Hands Will Mosey On Into 6666
Few developments aboutYellowstone’s Texas-based spinoff exist, but there are plenty of hints about what to expect.Yellowstoneset up multiple Dutton Ranch cowboys to appear in6666,teasing that Taylor Sheridan would fill out the cast with fan-favorites. Jimmy Hurdstrom (Jefferson White) moved to Texas to work withTaylor Sheridan’s Travis Wheatley characterat the Bosque Ranch inYellowstoneseason 4, eventually relocating there.
It’s safe to say Jimmy will return in6666afterYellowstoneseason 4. Season 5 also set up several ranch hands to emerge in the Lone Star State. Teeter (Jennifer Landon) moves to Texas to work alongside Wheatley, meaning she, too, could spearhead6666’s cast. Walker (Ryan Bingham) also hits the road, suggesting he might meet up with others in Texas. Considering Walker is a fan of his home state, we could see him returning toYellowstonein6666’s cast, too.
Yellowstone
Yellowstoneis a neo-Western drama series created by Taylor Sheridan and John Linson, centered on the Dutton family and their fight to protect the Yellowstone Dutton Ranch from various adversaries, including land developers and nearby reservations. Premiering in 2018 on Paramount Network, the show has been praised for its depiction of power struggles, family loyalty, and rural conflicts. It has expanded into a franchise with spin-offs such as1883and1923, and an upcoming sequel series is in development.
