Yellowstone (2018) stays riveted into the minds of all viewers. The graphic imagery of the controversies surrounding the National Park in Montana, USA, and the tussles faced by Yellowstone Dutton Ranch’s owner John Dutton III – played by Kevin Costner – make for intriguing screenplay and vivid viewing. The TV series captured the attention of audiences for four seasons, with a fifth underway right now.
1883 premiered in 2021 as a prequel to Yellowstone, set in the titular year as an earlier generation of the Dutton family making an arduous journey from Tennessee to Montana, where eventually they would lay down the foundation of the Yellowstone Ranch.
Sam Elliot starred in 1883, and has an interesting pitch of his own for the popular franchise.
Sam Elliott pitches a separate prequel to Yellowstone
Elliott played the role of Shea Brennan, who worked for the Pinkerton Agency, and had earlier fought in the Civil War. Brennan’s character is a sombre one and Elliott depicts it as such, brilliantly, as he grapples with the death of his wife and daughter from a smallpox outbreak. He was driven to commit suicide but prevented in time by Thomas (played by LaMonica Garrett), a Pinkerton employee. Brennan acts as the de facto leader of the grim group who makes the toiling journey across the country to Montana and often reminds the others of the dangers and problems surrounding them.
In a recent interaction with Variety, Sam Elliott talked about his experience acting in 1883. He wonders out loud about what Brennan’s and Thomas’ life would have been like from before the timeline depicted in 1883. Elliott ventures the idea of a separate project along these lines, as a prequel to 1883.
“I think everybody was sad to see it over; I know I was. I would have liked to have that wagon train go to Canada by then and just stay with it. My thought was, ‘Let’s do a prequel of this. Where was LaMonica? Where were those two guys? Pick it up after the war, when they were Pinkertons. There’s plenty of stuff to do.” said Elliott.
Elliott’s character Shea Brennan dies in the series finale, leaving fans aghast at the ending. Perhaps the prequel Elliott suggests might lend Brennan some more screen time and earn even more love from the fans.
Where does Yellowstone stand now?
Yellowstone itself is fraught with controversy at the moment. Lead actor Kevin Costner, who plays the role of John Dutton III, owner of the Yellowstone Dutton Ranch, recently made headlines as rumours about him ‘holding up’ season five of the series surfaced. Costner’s attorneys recently refuted the claims, saying that the rumour was all that it was – a rumour.
The rumours arose when news surfaced that the higher-ups were planning to release other spinoffs, after 1883, and 1923 (2021), which is another prequel to Yellowstone set in the titular age. 1923 shows a Dutton generation as it grapples with the Great Depression in Montana, apart from other developments. News about the show planning to move ahead with a spinoff series starring Matthew McConaughey added fuel to the fire regarding Costner’s exit.
As of now, however, Costner’s exit from the franchise seems to be only speculation.
Source: ScreenRant
