While the Yellowstone series continues to expand with shows like 1883 and 1923, Taylor Sheridan may have been quietly building a Paramount Plus expanded universe with other hits like Tulsa King and Mayor of Kingstown.
Yellowstone season 5 is on pause until summer, so we decided to use promo code 1923 to stream Yellowstone series spin-offs 1883 and 1923 to catch up. We finished with a wild idea.
The Yellowstone series universe may be bigger than we thought
We’ll skip the obvious tie-ins to the Yellowstone series in 1883 and 1923. We know that 1883 represents the first generation of Duttons and 1923 is the same generation aged 40 years (though it is told through James’ brother Jacob at a much older age). Jacob is raising James’ remaining children (second generation) and preparing the ranch for the third generation to one day take over.
But beyond the Dutton family, what else can we pull from the Yellowstone series and Taylor Sheridan’s other Paramount shows that support a shared universe? Dare we say, a YCU?
Here are all the tie-ins we’ve found outside of the Dutton family.
Related: How Spencer Dutton Fits In Fan Favorite Yellowstone Prequel 1923
The Duttons aren’t the only ones with history in 1883 and 1923
In Yellowstone season 2 episode 1, Monica Long Dutton, Kayce’s Native American wife, reveals her ancestors were taken to a Catholic school to “remove the Indian” from them. Teonna Rainwater is abused in 1923 in a Catholic School for girls. Thomas Rainwater is the leader of the Broken Rock Indian Reservation in the Yellowstone series. Teonna and Thomas both belong to the Rainwater family of the Broken Rock Indian Reservation.
Not to mention the seven generations promise made to James Dutton in 1883 by Spotted Eagle (which is coming to fruition in Yellowstone season 5). If our suspicions are correct, Sheridan is telling a generational tale spanning the entire United States.
Taylor Sheridan can’t help himself in Mayor of Kingstown
In Mayor of Kingstown season 1 episode 1, there are two references to the west. First, Mike’s mother, Miriam McClusky (Dianne Wiest), spends significant time teaching female inmates about Indian history, the march west, and what the US did to Native Americans. Yellowstone cast member Kelsey Asbille gave a similar lesson as Monica “Long Spear” Dutton to her students.
Furthermore, Mike McCluskey references a place in Wyoming where he dreamed of learning the ways of the west, cooking in a Dutch oven, living off the land, and surviving. To which Mike’s partner responds, “yea, but you ain’t no cowboy.”
Mayor of Kingstown, credit: Paramount
The Tulsa King is looking for cowboys and Indians too
In Tulsa King season 1 episode 8, bar owner Mitch tells Dwight his crew is “Bad News Bears” (while learning to shoot). Dwight asks if he has a better idea, to which Mitch replies, “I have some friends in the rodeo.” Mitch clarifies, “ex-cons in the rodeo.” Dwight asks Mitch to round them up.
Given that most of the Yellowstone ranch’s cowboys are ex-cons, some trained at the 6666 Texas ranch, what are the odds?
There’s another reference to cowboys when Dwight is talking to Jimmy, an Indian pot dealer. Dwight asks him for some “badass dudes.” Jimmy says he knows some tough guys, some pretty “badass cowboys.” Dwight asks if they are cowboys or Indians, to which Jimmy smiles and replies, “they can be both, you know.”
Related: Paramount’s Tulsa King: Stallone Is A Rockstar, Again
6666 could tie it all together
While Taylor and Paramount have been mum on casting details, we have some insight into where Sheridan plans to take the Yellowstone series spin-off 6666.
When showrunners for Yellowstone cast Walker with country music singer Ryan Bingham as a mysterious ranch hand in the Yellowstone series, most viewers weren’t expecting an ex-con cowboy with ties to the 6666 ranch (pronounced “four sixes”). When Jimmy’s about to be shipped off, Walker tells him he wished he’d never left Texas and the Four Sixes (an actual ranch that Sheridan co-owns).
According to TV Guide, Yellowstone series spin-off 6666 will explore the legendary Four Sixes Ranch. From Paramount:
“Founded when Comanches still ruled West Texas, no ranch in America is more steeped in the history of the West than the 6666. Still operating as it did two centuries before and encompassing an entire county, the 6666 has inspired a new scripted series where the rule of law and the laws of nature merge in a place where the most dangerous thing one does is the next thing. The 6666 is synonymous with the merciless endeavor to raise the finest horses and livestock in the world, and ultimately where world-class cowboys are born and made.”
Since Sheridan and Paramount will focus on the origins of 6666, there’s a chance we won’t see more of Jimmy in the Yellowstone series spin-off.
But does Sheridan plan on tying his entire lineup with Paramount to 6666? Whether they’re based on the old west or not, each series’s protagonists have their rebellious streaks. Behaving like cowboys?
Other interesting facts about the Yellowstone series universe
Actor Hugh Dillon, who plays Sheriff Donnie Haskell in the Yellowstone series, also plays lead detective Ian Ferguson in Mayor of Kingstown.
And LaMonica Garrett, best known for his role as Sheriff Cane in Sons of Anarchy, plays Thomas, a Pinkerton employee enlisted to help Shea move the wagon train west in 1883, has also been cast as Two Cups in Lioness, yet another Taylor Sheridan Paramount Plus exclusive series.
Will Yellowstone season 5 give us more insight into Sheridan’s plans?
It’s hard to say what will come of Yellowstone season 5 part 2. The last we saw the Duttons, Jaime and Beth were scheming about which of them would be taken to the “train station,” and John is trying to protect his cattle by purchasing land in Texas via the Four Sixes. Still, 6666 is expected to be an origin story, so we may be talking about events 200 years before the Yellowstone series.
In any case, we’ve got plenty of Sheridan on the way. In addition to 6666, there’s still part 2 of 1923, the rest of season 2 of Mayors of Kingstown, Tulsa King season 2, which has already been greenlit, and 1883: The Bass Reeves Story, all in different stages of production.
What do you think? Is Sheridan building a shared universe, or does he just love his ranch and the wild west mythos?
1923 season 1 part 2 comes to Paramount Plus on February 5th, and the Yellowstone series season 5 part 2 returns this summer.
Yellowstone reviews have been overwhelmingly positive, with some hailing the show as “an overlooked gem.” And the Golden Globe-winning western series shows no sign of slowing down.
Yellowstone cast: Kevin Costner, Kelly Reilly, Cole Hauser, Luke Grimes, Taylor Sheridan, Kesley Asbille, Wes Bentley, Jamerson White, Jennifer Landon, Gill Birmingham, Wendy Moniz, Moses Brings, Ryan Bingman, Forrie Smith, and Danny Huston.