It’s not the news that Yellowstone fans have been waiting for, but it’s pretty great nonetheless.
Paramount+ today announced that Academy Award nominee legend Sam Elliott will star alongside global superstars Tim McGraw and Faith Hill in the service’s upcoming original series 1883.
Created by Taylor Sheridan, 1883 is the highly anticipated prequel to the Emmy-nominated Yellowstone.
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.
Elliott is set to play Shea Brennan, a tough as nails, handsome cowboy with immense sadness in his past.
He has the herculean task of guiding a group from Texas to Montana, and he does not suffer fools.
McGraw and Hill will portray James and Margaret Dutton, the patriarch and matriarch of the Dutton family, respectively.
Additional cast will be announced at a later time.
“It all starts with the writing, and Taylor Sheridan is a brilliant writer,” said Elliott.
“I think the western genre speaks clearly to both of us. The classic struggles of man against man, man against nature and man against himself. It’s all there, in 1883, and I’m honored to be a part of it.”
“This is truly a dream job,” said Tim McGraw. “Taylor has found a way of storytelling that brilliantly creates these epic dramas and family sagas with so much depth and creativity.
“The Duttons are tremendous characters and it’s so thrilling to be able to bring them to life. As a kid growing up riding horses, you think about dream jobs like this, and I am just so excited to work with this amazing cast and crew.”
“This is the opportunity of a lifetime,” said Faith Hill. “The Duttons are a formidable family and it is an absolute dream to bring such a strong female character like Margaret Dutton to life. I am humbled and honored to work with Taylor and his entire team.”
“Yellowstone is a massive hit show with tens of millions of fans – with 1883, we are taking those fans back to the origin story, and in the process, turning the Yellowstone world into a global hit franchise to fuel the growth of Paramount+,” said Chris McCarthy, President/CEO, MTV Entertainment Group.
“We are thrilled to have Sam, Tim and Faith as the stars of Taylor Sheridan’s new series exclusively for Paramount+ around the world.”
“We are thrilled to have Academy Award nominee and acting legend Sam and hugely talented, award-winning artists Faith and Tim all join the Taylor Sheridan universe,” said David Glasser, CEO of 101 Studios.
“Taylor’s proven his immense capability of creating captivating characters and immersive worlds and there’s no exception here with 1883 and Sam, Faith and Tim’s characters.
“We are looking forward to this further expansion of the world of Yellowstone and bringing it to audiences everywhere.”
Elliott received an Academy Award nomination and a National Board of Review Award for his performance in A Star Is Born. His numerous other film credits include The Big Lebowski, Tombstone, and The Contender.
On television, his credits include a Critics Choice-award-winning performance on Justified as well as Parks & Rec, The Ranch, and the upcoming MacGruber.
McGraw is a Grammy Award-winning entertainer, author, and actor who has sold more than 80 million records worldwide and dominated the charts with 44 #1 singles. His previous acting credits include Friday Night Lights and the Academy Award nominated film The Blind Side.
Hill is a five-time Grammy Award-winning artist who has performed twice at both the Super Bowl and the Academy Awards, sold over 40 million albums globally, and celebrated multiple #1 singles worldwide across all formats. She most recently starred in the critically acclaimed indie feature Dixieland.
1883 will be executive produced by Taylor Sheridan, John Linson, Art Linson, David Glasser, Ron Burkle and Bob Yari.
What do you think of our vision of the quintessential cowboy coming to the Yellowstone family?
Share your thoughts on Elliott’s casting and McGraw and Hill as James and Margaret Dutton.
To get more familiar with the story, you can watch Yellowstone online.
Carissa Pavlica is the managing editor and a staff writer and critic for TV Fanatic. She’s a member of the Critic’s Choice Association, enjoys mentoring writers, conversing with cats, and passionately discussing the nuances of television and film with anyone who will listen. Follow her on Twitter and email her here at TV Fanatic.