‘1883’ Creator Reveals Shocking Reason Why the Yellowstone Prequel Will Not Have Season 2
The spin-off premiered in December 2021 and ran for ten episodes through February 2022. Despite high hopes for an 1883 Season 2, the follow-up never materialized. Instead, the story was partly continued by 1923, another Yellowstone story. Considering that the show was critically acclaimed enough to be nominated for three Primetime Emmy Awards, it is somewhat bizarre that Season 2 never materialized. It’s important to realize, however, there are good reasons why 1883 Season 2 didn’t happen.
The History of Yellowstone Spin-Offs
1883 Was the First of Many Yellowstone Spinoff Series
Given the wild success of Yellowstone, having a few spin-off series was fairly inevitable. 1883 was only the first of them, as the 10-hour western show ushered in a whole new era of Yellowstone. Its follow-up, 1923 came in December 2022, after jumping decades in the future. With a focus on another generation, it began to plant the seeds of growth that allowed the Dutton family to become the powerful monopoly that it is today. The second season of 1923 was delayed thanks to the WGA and SAG-AFTRA strikes in 2023, but it is apparently back on track and hoping to begin filming soon.
There are more spin-offs to come, of course. Because the flagship will be coming to an end with the second half of Season 5 later this year, the Yellowstone franchise will continue with shows like 6666, 1944, and The Madison. 6666 will be set in modern-day Texas and follow the events surrounding the titular Four Sixes Ranch. 1944 will continue the story of earlier generations of the Dutton family, presumably as they cope with the escalation of World War II. 2024 will be the official sequel to Yellowstone and has been rumored to have Matthew McConaughey as its lead star.
1883 Was Always Meant to Have One Season
Unlike Other Yellowstone Series, 1883 Was Always Going to Be a Miniseries
Not every show is meant to exist for multiple seasons. Sheridan always wanted to make an extended Western with 1883, but he never wanted the show to run for another season. Instead, he saw the opportunity to follow the overarching story with 1923. That meant saying goodbye to beloved characters, including James and Margaret Dutton so that the next generation could begin their own stories. It also meant skipping forward to a time when the characters are more entwined with the Yellowstone ranch, rather than being new arrivals desperately trying to survive in a hostile environment.
The timeline of Sheridan’s Yellowstone Universe is extensive because it allows characters from entirely different settings to tell their story. In 1883, Sheridan wanted to set the narrative in a post-Civil War Montana. In 1923, he was able to tackle other then-present events, including the early signs of the Great Depression and the threat of prohibition. The same has been true for each project, which has given Sheridan new settings to explore through the Yellowstone lens.
Being a Limited Series Benefited 1883
Unlike Some Other Shows, 1883 Never Outstayed Its Welcome
Another benefit is that plans never needed to be reshuffled for 1883. Yellowstone is largely coming to an end because of the conflict between Costner and Paramount. Running for five seasons left time for grievances to fester, scheduling issues to pile up, and monetary issues to grow. With a set plan for a single season of 1883, behind-the-scenes issues were unlikely to appear, and it saved Sheridan from ever needing to risk shutting down the show over similar issues. Instead, it could begin and end on good terms, and the entire cast and crew of Yellowstone were able to complete production as planned and as scheduled. Considering the original show’s difficulties, being a limited series has been a blessing in disguise for the prequel.
Is There a Way for 1883’s Story to Continue?
Other Spinoffs Continue the Story of 1883
What’s Next for the Yellowstone Franchise?
There Are Several New Yellowstone Spinoff Series and Seasons on the Way
Several other spinoffs in development will likely premiere in the next year or two. 1944 is set to immediately follow the events of 1923 Season 2, acting as a sequel series of sorts that could bridge its predecessor to the events of Yellowstone. Furthermore, a spinoff centering around the Four Sixes Ranch in Texas, 6666, is in development as well, though there has been little word about the project’s progress. Perhaps the most intriguing of these spinoffs is The Madison, a series that is rumored to act as a direct sequel to Yellowstone.