1923: Everything you need to know about the Yellowstone prequel and its cast

If you are a fan of Yellowstone, the hit Western drama series created by Taylor Sheridan, you might be wondering what’s next for the Dutton family. Well, wonder no more because Paramount+ has launched a new spin-off series called 1923, which explores the origins and challenges of the Duttons in the early 20th century.

1923 is a sequel to another Yellowstone prequel series, 1883, which follows the journey of James and Margaret Dutton (played by Tim McGraw and Faith Hill) as they migrate from Texas to Montana in search of a better life. 1923 picks up 40 years later when their son Spencer Dutton (played by Brandon Sklenar) returns from World War I with a British fiancée named Alexandra (played by Julia Schlaepfer). Meanwhile, Spencer’s uncle Jacob Dutton (played by Harrison Ford) and his wife Cara (played by Helen Mirren) run the Dutton Ranch and face various threats and challenges, such as sheepherders, drought, Prohibition, and the Great Depression.

1923 premiered on December 18, 2022, on Paramount+, and it has already been renewed for a second season of eight episodes. The first season consists of nine episodes, with one episode released every Sunday. The series’ narrator is Isabel May, who portrays Elsa Dutton in 1883.

If you are curious about the cast and characters of 1923, here is everything you need to know:

Harrison Ford as Jacob Dutton

Harrison Ford is one of the most iconic actors in Hollywood history, known for his roles as Han Solo in Star Wars, Indiana Jones in Raiders of the Lost Ark and its sequels, Rick Deckard in Blade Runner and Blade Runner 2049, and Jack Ryan in Patriot Games and Clear and Present Danger. He has also starred in other films such as Witness, The Fugitive, Air Force One, and The Call of the Wild.

In 1923, Ford plays Jacob Dutton, the older brother of James Dutton (portrayed by Tim McGraw in 1883) and the patriarch of the Dutton family. Jacob is a tough and respected rancher with no children, but he raised his nephew John Dutton Sr. (played by James Badge Dale) and his niece Spencer Dutton as his own. Jacob is loyal to his family and land, but he also has a dark side that he tries to keep hidden.

Helen Mirren as Cara Dutton

Helen Mirren is an acclaimed actress who has won an Academy Award, four BAFTA Awards, three Golden Globe Awards, four Emmy Awards, and a Tony Award. She is known for her roles as Queen Elizabeth II in The Queen and the Audience, Queen Charlotte in The Madness of King George, Detective Jane Tennison in Prime Suspect, Catherine the Great in Catherine the Great, and Victoria Winslow in RED and RED 2. She has also appeared in films such as The Long Good Friday, Gosford Park, The Last Station, Hitchcock, Eye in the Sky, and Fast & Furious Presents: Hobbs & Shaw.

In 1923, Mirren plays Cara Dutton, wife of Jacob Dutton and the matriarch of the Dutton family. Cara is a smart and sophisticated woman from a wealthy background in New York. She loves her husband and family dearly but has a rebellious streak that sometimes gets her into trouble.

Brandon Sklenar as Spencer Dutton

Brandon Sklenar is an actor who has appeared in films such as Hacksaw Ridge, Mapplethorpe, Vice, and Midway. He has also starred in TV shows such as The Man in the High Castle, The Last Tycoon, and The Morning Show.

In 1923, Sklenar plays Spencer Dutton, the younger son of James and Margaret Dutton. Spencer is a war veteran who witnessed the horrors of World War I and travelled Africa tracking big game. He returns to Montana with his fiancée, Alexandra, a freethinking British woman who does not fit in with the conservative society of the West. Spencer is adventurous and charming, but he also struggles with PTSD and his relationship with his family.

Julia Schlaepfer as Alexandra

Julia Schlaepfer is an actress best known for her role as Alice Charles in The Politician, a Netflix comedy-drama series created by Ryan Murphy. She has also appeared in films such as Charlie Says and Instinct.

In 1923, Schlaepfer plays Alexandra, a British woman who meets Spencer Dutton in Africa and falls in love with him. Alexandra is independent and outspoken, which makes her clash with some of the people in Montana, especially Jacob and Cara Dutton. She is also adventurous and curious and wants to learn more about the West and its culture.

Jerome Flynn as Banner Creighton

Jerome Flynn is an actor widely known for his role as Bronn in Game of Thrones, the HBO fantasy series based on George R.R. Martin’s novels. He has also starred in TV shows such as Ripper Street, Badger, and Soldier Soldier. He has also appeared in films such as A Fish Called Wanda, Loving Vincent, and John Wick: Chapter 3: Parabellum.

In 1923, Flynn plays Banner Creighton, a Scottish sheepherder who is one of the main adversaries of the Duttons. Creighton is ruthless and cunning, and he wants to take over the land that belongs to the Duttons. He also has a vendetta against Jacob Dutton, who killed his brother years ago.

Darren Mann as Jack Dutton

Darren Mann is an actor who has starred in films such as Giant Little Ones, Chilling Adventures of Sabrina: A Midwinter’s Tale, and Fortunate Son. He has also appeared in TV shows such as The Chilling Adventures of Sabrina, Wayward Pines, and Some Assembly Required.

In 1923, Mann plays Jack Dutton, the son of John Dutton Sr. (played by James Badge Dale) and grandson of James Dutton (portrayed by Tim McGraw in 1883). Jack is a dedicated rancher who works hard to help his family run the Dutton Ranch. He is loyal to his family, especially his father, John Sr., who raised him alone after his mother died giving birth to him. He is also engaged to Elizabeth Strafford (played by Michelle Randolph), a feisty and capable young woman from a wealthy family.

Isabel May as Elsa Dutton

Isabel May is an actress who is best known for her roles as Katie Cooper in Alexa & Katie, a Netflix comedy series about two best friends dealing with cancer, and Veronica Duncan in Young Sheldon, a CBS comedy series, that serves as a prequel to The Big Bang Theory. She has also appeared in films such as Run Hide Fight and Let’s Scare Julie.

In 1923, May plays Elsa Dutton, the daughter of James and Margaret Dutton (portrayed by Tim McGraw and Faith Hill in 1883). Elsa is a strong-willed and courageous young woman who grew up on the frontier and faced many hardships with her family. She also narrates the story of 1923 from her perspective.

Brian Geraghty as Zane Davis

Brian Geraghty is an actor who has appeared in films such as The Hurt Locker, Flight, Jarhead, Bobby, and The Alienist: Angel of Darkness. He has also starred in TV shows such as Boardwalk Empire, Chicago P.D., Ray Donovan, and Briarpatch.

In 1923, Geraghty plays Zane Davis, the fiercely loyal ranch foreman of the Dutton Ranch. Zane is a former soldier who served with Spencer Dutton in World War I. He is devoted to his job and his boss, Jacob Dutton, but also has a soft spot for Teonna Rainwater (played by Aminah Nieves), a rebellious young American Indian woman who was taken from her family and placed in an Indian boarding school for girls run by the Catholic Church.

Aminah Nieves as Teonna Rainwater

Aminah Nieves is an actress who has appeared in films such as The Last Black Man in San Francisco and The Mustang. She has also appeared in TV shows such as Animal Kingdom and Shameless.

In 1923, Nieves plays Teonna Rainwater, a young American Indian woman who was taken from her family as a child and placed in an Indian boarding school for girls run by the Catholic Church. Teonna is rebellious and defiant against her oppressors but longs for freedom and her true identity. She bonds with Zane Davis (played by Brian Geraghty), who helps her escape from the school.

Michelle Randolph as Elizabeth Strafford

Michelle Randolph is an actress who has appeared in films such as House of Demons, A Snow White Christmas, 5 Years Apart, and Instakiller. She has also appeared in TV shows such as The Morning Show.

In 1923, Randolph plays Elizabeth Strafford, the fiancée and later wife of Jack Dutton (played by Darren Mann), the son of John Dutton Sr. and grandson of James Dutton. Elizabeth comes from a wealthy family that owns the Strafford Ranch, adjacent to the Yellowstone Ranch. She is a feisty and capable young woman who loves Jack dearly and supports him through thick and thin.

Timothy Dalton as Donald Whitfield

Timothy Dalton is an actor famous for his roles as James Bond in The Living Daylights and Licence to Kill, Rhett Butler in Scarlett, Sir Malcolm Murray in Penny Dreadful, and Rassilon in Doctor Who. He has also appeared in films such as Flash Gordon, The Rocketeer, Hot Fuzz, and Toy Story 4.

In 1923, Dalton plays Donald Whitfield, a powerful, wealthy business tycoon accustomed to getting what he wants. Whitfield has a keen interest in the Dutton Ranch and its potential for development and profit. He is also a rival of Jacob Dutton, who does not trust him or his motives.

Other cast members

The 1923 cast also includes:

• James Badge Dale is John Dutton Sr., the son of James and Margaret Dutton, the father of Jack Dutton, and the nephew of Jacob Dutton. He is a former soldier who fought in World War I and now runs the Dutton Ranch with his uncle. He is also a widower who lost his wife during childbirth.
• Marley Shelton plays Emma Dutton, the wife of Jacob Dutton and the aunt of John Sr. and Spencer. She is a kind and caring woman who helps Cara with the household and the ranch.
• Jacques Schembri plays Jimmy Cricket, a young ranch hand who works for the Duttons. He is loyal and hardworking but also naive and impressionable.
• Robert Patrick plays Sheriff William McDowell, the sheriff of Gallatin County and a friend of the Dutton family. He tries to keep the peace between the ranchers and the sheepherders, but he also has his own agenda.
• Jennifer Ehle plays Sister Mary, a nun who runs the Indian boarding school for girls where Teonna Rainwater was sent. She is strict and cruel and tries to erase the American Indian culture and identity from her students.
• Sebastian Roché plays Father Renaud, a priest who works at an Indian boarding school for girls. He is more compassionate and sympathetic than Sister Mary and tries to help Teonna escape from school.

How to watch 1923

If you want to watch 1923, you need to have a subscription to Paramount+, which is a streaming service that offers original content, live sports, news, movies, and shows from CBS, MTV, Comedy Central, Nickelodeon, BET, the Smithsonian Channel, and more.

You can sign up for Bundle Paramount+ with SHOWTIMEⓇ for $5.99/mo. for 3 months with code: BUNDLEUP. Offer ends 6/4. 

You can watch Paramount+ on various devices, such as Roku, Apple TV, Amazon Fire TV, Chromecast, Android TV, PlayStation 4, Xbox One, Samsung Smart TV, LG Smart TV, Vizio Smart TV, iOS devices, Android devices, and web browsers.

You can also watch 1923 on Paramount Network if you have a cable or satellite subscription that includes this channel. However, you will have to wait until January 23rd for the series premiere on Paramount Network.

Why you should watch 1923

If you are a Yellowstone or Western drama fan, you should definitely watch 1923. The series offers a captivating story of family, loyalty, violence, survival, and history in the American West.

The series also features an amazing cast of actors who bring their characters to life with depth and emotion. You will see Harrison Ford and Helen Mirren in rare TV roles as Jacob and Cara Dutton, as well as other talented actors such as Brandon Sklenar, Julia Schlaepfer, Jerome Flynn, Darren Mann, Isabel May, Brian Geraghty, Aminah Nieves, Michelle Randolph, and Timothy Dalton.

The series also showcases stunning cinematography that captures the beauty and harshness of Montana’s landscapes. You will see breathtaking shots of mountains, rivers, forests, and plains that create a vivid backdrop for the drama.

It also explores some themes and issues that shaped the West in the early 20th century, such as Prohibition, drought, the Great Depression, Western expansion, American Indian rights, and family legacy.

The series also connects to Yellowstone and 1883 by revealing more about the origins and challenges of the Dutton family and how they became one of the most powerful dynasties in Montana.

So if you are looking for a new series to binge-watch or catch up on before Yellowstone returns for its fifth season later this year, you should check out 1923 on Paramount+ or Paramount Network.

You won’t regret it!