Few actors can make a successful jump from the front of the camera to behind it. While stars like Ben Affleck have navigated this transition, Taylor Sheridan has proved that he isn’t far behind. The star who became a recognizable face on television in shows like Sons of Anarchy and Veronica Mars, found his true calling as a writer with his hugely popular series Yellowstone.
Encouraged by the success of the show, Sheridan went on to create two prequels namely 1883, and its immediate sequel 1923 which starred Harrison Ford and Helen Mirren in the lead roles. The series, which has been renewed for a 2nd season, was initially given a different title by the writer, but was subsequently modified following the change in its historical setting.
How Did Taylor Sheridan’s 1932 Become 1923?
Taylor Sheridan’s neo-western drama series Yellowstone follows the Dutton family and their feud with an Indian reservation with whom their ranch shares borders with. The show, starring Kevin Costner in the lead, became a runaway success with audiences and critics thanks to Sheridan’s sharp writing and screenplay.
Encouraged by the reception, the Veronica Mars star went on to create a prequel miniseries titled 1883 which traced the ancestry of the Duttons and the Yellowstone ranch. This was followed by another prequel which was actually an immediate sequel to 1883 titled 1923 starring two Hollywood veterans, Harrison Ford and Helen Mirren, who play the older Duttons.
1923 which comprised of 8 episodes in its first season, has now been renewed for a second season according to Sheridan’s confirmed statement to Deadline. Interestingly, the series was originally titled 1932 which was to have symbolized the events of the Great Depression that occurred in Montana and its disastrous effects on people.
But Sheridan realized through extensive research into Montana’s history, that he would have to change the decade to accurately encapsulate the historical context of the Depression which actually exploded in the 20s (via Looper). To further elaborate on the decade, the show also covered events from the first World War and the 1920s Prohibition among others.
While there is no information yet on when season 2 of 1923 will air on Paramount Plus, the success of the 1st season and the performances of Harrison Ford and Helen Mirren are enough incentive for fans to wait patiently to see what Sheridan has in store.
How Taylor Sheridan’s Blockbuster Series Became HBO’s Loss and Paramount’s Gain
Taylor Sheridan’s powerful western drama Yellowstone became one of the most popular television series in America and cemented the Veronica Mars star’s place as a writer-director to watch out for in Hollywood. The show which was bankrolled by Paramount Network, was originally written to be picked up by HBO.
Sheridan, who had approached the media giant with the script, could not convince the decision-makers about the vision that he had for the show. Speaking to Four Sixes Ranch, the Sicario writer elaborated on what went wrong.
“I sat with the senior vice-president of HBO, who told me that they weren’t going to go forward with it. And when I asked why, he said, ‘Nobody wants to see this. Nobody wants to see a movie about this. And you don’t understand why anybody is sitting out there in the first place. The whole thing should be a park.’”
Fortunately for Sheridan, Paramount Network was able to see what HBO couldn’t, and backed him fully to develop the narrative. The rest, as they say, is history. The series will culminate after its 5th and final season. While part 1 aired in 2022, part 2 of season 5 is due to release in November 2024.
Season 1 of 1923 is streaming on Paramount Plus.
