‘Yellowstone’ Season 4 Premiere Offers Fans a Sneak Peek at the Prequel Series ‘1883’

ARTICLE HIGHLIGHTS

• The season 4 premiere of Yellowstone answered a lot of questions and gave fans a sneak peak at the prequel 1883.
• The prequel series will star real-life husband and wife, Tim McGraw and Faith Hill, as well as Sam Elliott.
• According to a press release, “1883 follows the Dutton family as they embark on a journey west through the Great Plains toward the last bastion of untamed America.

Yellowstone season 4 is finally here, but that’s not the only thing fans have to be thankful for. Taylor Sheridan’s universe is expanding in December with the premiere of the prequel 1883. And fans got a sneak peek at the new series — along with star Tim McGraw — in the Yellowstone season 4 premiere.

‘Yellowstone’ prequel ‘1883’ stars Tim McGraw and Faith Hill

Details about the new Yellowstone prequel 1883 have been hard to come by. But we do know that the series will star country music superstars — and real-life husband and wife — Tim McGraw and Faith Hill. The couple will play John Dutton’s (Kevin Costner) ancestors James and Margaret Dutton — the first generation of the Dutton family to settle the Montana land that becomes the Yellowstone Ranch.

According to a press release, “1883 follows the Dutton family as they embark on a journey west through the Great Plains toward the last bastion of untamed America. It is a stark retelling of Western expansion, and an intense study of one family fleeing poverty to seek a better future in America’s promised land — Montana.”

Sam Elliott will also star in ‘1883’

Joining McGraw and Hill in the cast of 1883 is veteran actor Sam Elliott.  The Academy Award nominee will play the role of Shea Brennan, “a tough as nails, handsome cowboy with immense sadness in his past.”

After the 1883 casting news was announced, McGraw told his three million Instagram followers that he and his wife couldn’t believe they would be starring alongside Elliott.

“A lot of you probably have heard by now that we’re on to a new project and we’re pretty excited about it,” McGraw said on Instagram. “Faith and I get to star alongside Sam Elliott — I mean goodness gracious — for the new Yellowstone prequel called 1883. It’s going to be a fantastic family saga about the original Duttons and their journey to Montana and how they founded the ranch up there.”

The ‘Yellowstone’ season 4 premiere gives fans a sneak peek at the new prequel

A month before the scheduled 1883 premiere, fans got their first glimpse of McGraw and the prequel via a flashback during the first episode of Yellowstone season 4.

In the scene, McGraw as James Dutton is with his sons when they spot Indians on the Dutton land. James finds out that they are there to bury one of their ancestors. After some debate, he allows them to do it. He also leaves them a cow to harvest and eat.

Back in the present day, a skeleton — assuming it is the ancestor they buried — is found while a construction crew is digging. They stop, of course, and call in Chief Rainwater (Gil Birmingham).

Faith Hill promises fans have never seen anything like ‘1883’

When Hill first spoke about playing Margaret Dutton in 1883, she shared a boomerang of herself holding her pilot script on Instagram. In the caption, the country singer shared her excitement with fans. She also made a big promise.

“Finally the day has come when I get to share some exciting news with you!” Hill wrote. “I will be playing Margaret Dutton, the original matriarch of the Dutton family in the Yellowstone prequel 1883. Just wait, you have never seen anything like this!”

‘1883’ won’t air on the same network as ‘Yellowstone’

The premiere date for 1883 has been revealed to be December 19 on the Paramount Network. But that’s not where the series will remain. After airing the first two episodes on the cable outlet — which is also the home of Yellowstone — the prequel will move exclusively to Paramount+.

The streamer will also be the home of the other Yellowstone spinoff that’s currently in the works – 6666. As well as Sheridan’s other new drama Mayor of Kingstown, starring Jeremy Renner.

New episodes of Yellowstone air Sunday nights on the Paramount Network. The series premiere of 1883 airs Sunday, Dec. 19 on the same network before the series moves to Paramount+.