From 1923 To 1944: Harrison Ford Hints At More From the Yellowstone Universe
The second season of 1923 may have wrapped with a bang—and possibly for good—but according to Harrison Ford, he’s not ready to hang up Jacob Dutton’s hat just yet.
At a recent panel in Los Angeles celebrating 1923, Ford, Helen Mirren, Julia Schlaepfer, and Aminah Nieves gathered to reflect on the show’s latest season and its place in the expanding Yellowstone universe. While 1923 hasn’t been officially confirmed as concluded, the cast treated the event like a send-off, sharing insights on everything from character arcs to the emotional final scenes.
Ford, who’s spent much of his career portraying iconic heroes, embraced the complexity of Jacob Dutton—a character he described as far from virtuous. “He does some bad things and then just keeps going,” Ford said. “That’s a rare kind of role for me.” He credited the writing for diving into the gritty, often uncomfortable parts of Western history, beyond the usual cowboy mythos.
The finale left fans with one of the most poignant moments in the Yellowstone prequels to date: the birth of Spencer and Alex’s baby, followed by Alex’s tragic death. That child—baby John—is widely believed to be the link to Yellowstone’s John Dutton III, though the cast stayed cautious about confirming anything without Taylor Sheridan’s say-so.
Helen Mirren, who plays Cara Dutton, joked that she was surprised her character even made it to the end. “I was convinced I was going to die,” she said, laughing. Instead, she closed the season holding her great-nephew—an ending she described as powerful and symbolic. “I love that the future is in this tiny baby being held by two people at the end of their lives. That’s a strong image.”
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Looking ahead, the next series in the timeline, 1944, is rumored to be in the works. While no details have been made official, both Ford and Mirren expressed openness to returning in some capacity—be it flashbacks or otherwise. “I’m still alive,” Ford joked. “If Taylor asks nicely, maybe I’ll come back.”
Julia Schlaepfer, whose character Alex met a heartbreaking end, said she’d return in a heartbeat—even joking about making a comeback as a ghost, an idea co-star Brandon Sklenar reportedly supported.
While 1944 is expected to move the story forward by two decades, potentially focusing on a grown-up John Dutton II, it’s clear that 1923 left a lasting impact. High production value, rich character development, and an unflinching look at American history set the series apart—and fans aren’t ready to say goodbye just yet.
