1 ‘Yellowstone’ Prequel Idea Inspired By Taylor Sheridan’s Real Family History Could Finally Complete the Dutton Family Tree

Taylor Sheridan and John Linson’s neo-Western drama Yellowstone is probably one of the most talked-about shows in 2024. The series which stars Kevin Costner, Kelly Reilly, Luke Grimes, West Bentley, and more follows the Dutton family and their challenges to keep their Yellowstone Dutton Ranch in the family. The show is coming to its conclusion after five seasons.

Upon release, the show had a slow start but eventually became one of the most beloved shows online. Fans were invested in the story more than the cast and the makers expected, which is why a lot of them were upset when it was announced that the show was going to end after five long seasons. But there is a way the Dutton family tree can also feel complete.

Yellowstone co-creator Taylor Sheridan talks about his Irish roots

Taylor Sheridan appeared on Joe Rogan’s show, where he shared about his Irish roots that eventually led to the idea of developing the Yellowstone prequel in 1883. The prequel show detailed how the Duttons came to own the land that became the Yellowstone Ranch. 1883 is said to be the stark retelling of Western expansion and an intense study of one family fleeing poverty to seek a better future in America.

In his conversation with Joe Rogan, Sheridan added, that 40% of the people who migrated to America couldn’t speak English at the time. Sheridan had previously shared that he drew inspiration from the late 1800s Wild West for the prequel series. Explaining more, Rogan Sheridan revealed,

The notion of getting free land is that you could go farm, which is going somewhere with nothing. There are no stores; you’re going to have to make everything; you have to figure it out on your own. Who would choose that?

Sheridan added that people who have no other option. He shared that all the people who came from European nations didn’t come for an adventure but because they were starving. Recalling his Irish roots, he mentioned that his family had to leave Ireland because of the potato famine, not because they wanted to.

Now, according to People as it is known that Cara Dutton, played by Helen Mirren in 1923, who married Jacob Dutton, emigrated from Ireland, and the traces of her past reportedly can be heard in her slight accent. So, it’ll be interesting to see how, just like Sheridan’s family migrated from Ireland to America, Cara Dutton’s family moved from Ireland to America before she met Jacob Dutton.

If Taylor Sheridan works on a prequel to 1883 focusing on showing the family’s immigration from Ireland, which, according to his interview, was pretty tough, then it can bring the Dutton family tree to a whole circle.

Did Taylor Sheridan tease a Yellowstone spinoff with Season 5 Episode 13?

Episode 13 of season five of Yellowstone, Give The World Away, recently premiered, and even though fans were disappointed with the co-creator taking up a lot of screen time, some fans believe that he might have just teased another spin-off.

The episode heavily weighed on Travis Wheatley played by Taylor Sheridan and the scenes in the show seemed like filler and were not exactly taking the story anywhere. Especially when there is so much ground to cover before the finale episode.

ScreenRant mentioned that Sheridan’s scene in episode 13 works as a backdoor pilot for a new spinoff series featuring Travis Wheatley. The publication explained that it is because such pilots heavily weigh on the stars of the new series and are not exactly connected to the other events of the main series. However, the fans believe that the timing for teasing a new probable spinoff wasn’t ideal because it could disappoint the audience, and they might turn away.

Kevin Costner’s leaving the show already had impacted the show’s viewership, and thus Taylor Sheridan should have been a bit more careful with teasing the spinoff if it was. However, nothing has been announced as of now.

Yellowstone can be streamed on Paramount+.