With the announcement of another ‘Yellowstone’ prequel ‘1944’ it begs the question which characters from ‘1923’ could return and which ones need to be recast?

The Yellowstone universe is expanding yet again, this time with another generation of Duttons in the 1940s. On the heels of 1883 and 1923, Taylor Sheridan’s new Yellowstone prequel 1944 is officially in the works. And once again, fans should expect to see new Dutton faces when the official cast list is revealed.

The ‘Yellowstone’ prequels are introducing fans to every Dutton ranching generation

Yellowstone fans met the first generation of Duttons in the limited series 1883, which starred Tim McGraw and Faith Hill as James and Margaret Dutton. Those episodes told the story of how they traveled the Oregon Trail with their children — Elsa (Isabel May) and John (Audie Rick) — and how they chose the land in Montana that would eventually become the Dutton Ranch in Yellowstone.

The prequel 1923 introduced the next generation of Duttons after James and Margaret’s passing. James’ brother Jacob (Harrison Ford) and sister-in-law Clara (Helen Mirren) are in charge of the ranch after World War I, along with a grown-up John (James Badge Dale).

Fans have also met Spencer Dutton (Brandon Sklenar), John’s younger brother who was born after the events of 1883. He is a World War I veteran who is struggling with the horrors of war on another continent.

All of the ‘1923’ characters that will need to be re-cast in the new ‘Yellowstone’ prequel

Most of the actors in 1923 will have to be recast for 1944. With a 20-year time jump, Jacob and Cara will be gone. And, there’s no guarantee that John or Spencer will still be alive. If they are, though, Badge Dale and Sklenar could reprise their roles as aged-up versions of their 1923 characters.

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