When “Yellowstone” premiered in 2018, it only had a fraction of the audience that it’s garnered now. The season 1 premiere was viewed by 2.8 million people on the Paramount Network, a number that more than tripled earlier this year when season 5 arrived to 10.3 million viewers. So it’s safe to say that the continued success of the “Yellowstone” extended universe was a huge factor in the prequel’s successful premiere, but I’m also willing to bet that the star-studded cast turned some heads all on their own. In fact, in his review of the season, /Film’s Barry Levitt wrote that familiarity with the Dutton family is not a prerequisite for enjoying the new show — the real appeal isn’t the fictional history lesson, it’s the fact that two screen legends are taking center stage.
As you’ve likely learned from the billboards invading your hometown, “1923” has Harrison Ford and Helen Mirren leading the charge, as the newest heads of the Dutton family. Set in the early twentieth century, the series explores the family’s experience during prohibition-era Montana. The obstacles before them are heavy — pandemics, historic drought, the Great Depression, and Prohibition all plague the countryside that the Dutton family calls home. But terrible odds have never stopped them before.
In a press release announcing the news, Paramount sang the praises of Sheridan’s latest, with chief programming officer of Paramount Streaming, Tanya Giles saying:
“Anchored by Taylor Sheridan’s incredible vision and the performances of legends Helen Mirren and Harrison Ford, we felt confident this next chapter of the Dutton family origin story would resonate with audiences. We are thrilled with the record-breaking early response to the first episode and can’t wait to introduce more audiences to this incredible journey of perseverance, heartbreak, and adventure set amongst the backdrop of the Mountain West.”
The next episode of “1923” will be available to stream on January 1, 2023.