Spencer Dutton’s 1923 Spinoff: Why Yellowstone Needs This Heroic Dutton

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Though the main Yellowstone series concluded in December 2024, and faced challenges with Kevin Costner’s departure, the story is continuing. Fans are still hoping to see Taylor Sheridan’s most compelling Dutton character return in the planned 1923 prequel, which promises to revitalize the popular neo-Western universe.

The world of Yellowstone is expanding in 2026 with several new shows. Marshals, which premiered in March, follows Kayce Dutton (Luke Grimes) and blends the show’s Western action with the classic procedural style on CBS. Then, in May, The Dutton Ranch arrives on Paramount+, continuing the story of Beth Dutton (Kelly Reilly) and Rip Wheeler (Cole Hauser) as they start a new chapter in Texas.

Although not directly connected to the Dutton family, Taylor Sheridan’s new show on Paramount+, The Madison, exists within the same world as Yellowstone. And while Yellowstone was being revamped, another series kept the story of the Duttons going.

The second season of 1923, which aired in 2025, finished the story of Jacob Dutton (Harrison Ford) during the Prohibition era. It left viewers eager to see more of his charismatic nephew, Spencer Dutton (Brandon Sklenar).

Spencer Dutton’s 1923 Yellowstone Spinoff Still Needs To Happen

A new prequel to Yellowstone, originally called 1944, was announced as part of future plans for the show, but it hasn’t been made yet. The series would have followed Spencer Dutton twenty years later, focusing on the next generation of the Dutton family, including his son, John Dutton II, and other young members of the family. Alexandra, Spencer’s late wife, would also have been featured.

The story needs to continue with 1944 so we can see what happens with Spencer Dutton. He quickly became a beloved character in 1923, known for his bravery and romantic side. His heartbreaking marriage to Alexandra was the central love story of the show, and without Spencer’s help, the Yellowstone Dutton Ranch would have been lost to Donald Whitfield (Timothy Dalton).

Spencer Dutton stands out from other men in his family, particularly those seen in the current Yellowstone series, because he’s refreshingly straightforward. He has a clear sense of right and wrong and is a truly selfless hero in the traditional sense. Combined with his unwavering loyalty to Alexandra, this made him a genuinely good character that viewers of 1923 quickly embraced.

The season finale of 1923 shows Spencer dying in 1969, but that’s just a glimpse into the future. In reality, Spencer survives and continues protecting the Yellowstone Dutton Ranch for another 45 years after the events of 1923. A potential series, 1944, could follow Spencer in his fifties, offering a fresh look at him as an older, more experienced leader during the final years of World War II.

Brandon Sklenar is hoping to reprise his role as an older Spencer Dutton in a potential future installment of the 1944 series. He’d also love to see Julia Schlaepfer return as Alex, possibly as a ghostly presence or a memory for her husband. Sklenar is gaining recognition in Hollywood, having appeared in popular movies like It Ends With Us, Drop, and The Housemaid. Given his rising star power, it would be a smart move for the Yellowstone universe to bring him back as Spencer Dutton.

Kayce’s Marshals Proves Yellowstone Needs Heroic Duttons Now More Than Ever

While the show Landman didn’t immediately impress reviewers with its connection to Yellowstone, the new direction suits Kayce Dutton well. As the youngest and most honorable of the Dutton children in the modern era, Kayce (played by Kevin Costner’s son) is a natural fit for his job as a U.S. Marshal, battling both domestic threats and those involved in human trafficking.

Kayce may have gotten his strong moral compass from his grandfather, Spencer Dutton. While Spencer lived in a brutal time, he remained more ethically grounded than Kayce or his father in the world of Yellowstone. Kayce is now trying to atone for his family’s past actions and do good in Marshals, but Spencer’s story, set in 1944, would be even more captivating as he takes on the responsibility of safeguarding the Yellowstone Dutton Ranch.

In 1944, Spencer might have to compromise his principles to safeguard the Dutton Ranch. However, he could also be a Dutton who avoids truly terrible actions while defending his family’s heritage. Like Kayce, despite living generations apart, Spencer possesses a genuine heroic quality.

Beth and Rip will likely carry on the intense, no-holds-barred approach that made Yellowstone so captivating in The Dutton Ranch. In fact, The Dutton Ranch is being presented as essentially a continuation of Yellowstone, picking up as season 6. Meanwhile, Marshals offers a more traditional, case-of-the-week style, tailored for CBS viewers.

If Spencer Dutton reappears in 1944 – and the story suggests he will – Brandon Sklenar’s character could bridge the gap between Beth and Kayce, serving as a link to their modern-day ancestors. Like Kayce, who’s starting over after the loss of his wife Monica in the Marshals storyline, Spencer would still be grieving for Alex in 1944.

The show Yellowstone really hit a home run with the character Spencer Dutton in 1923. Now, fans of Taylor Sheridan’s Western series are eager to see Spencer’s bravery and resilience again in 1944.

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2026-04-06 21:39