The second and final season of the American neo-Western and period drama television series 1923 was announced in February 2023. As a limited-run series, the program was not originally intended to extend beyond its initial eight-episode order. Season two was developed after its creator and showrunner, Taylor Sheridan, determined that the story needed more episodes to reach a proper conclusion. The series is a part of the Yellowstone franchise, and is a sequel to 1883 and a prequel to Yellowstone. 1923 stars Helen Mirren, Harrison Ford, Brandon Sklenar, Julia Schlaepfer, Jerome Flynn, Darren Mann, Isabel May, Brian Geraghty, Amina Nieves, Michelle Randolph, and Timothy Dalton.
Sheridan wrote all eight of the season's episodes. The series revolves around a generation of the Dutton family, and is set in the U.S. state of Montana in 1923 and 1924. The Duttons face the struggles of winter and attempt to protect their ranch against those who wish to develop and profit from the land. Other storylines revolve around a newlywed couple who have been separated and are attempting to reunite, and a fugitive Native American schoolgirl who is being sought in Oklahoma and Texas. Some arcs include fictionalized versions of real people and events.
Similar to the first season, the production team planned on filming most of the season in Butte, Montana, beginning in June 2023, but delays caused by the 2023 Hollywood labor disputes led to the moving of principal photography to Austin, Texas, and the surrounding areas, although some location filming took place in Montana. Recording began on July 8, 2024, and concluded in November; the show's cast and crew experienced difficulties with extreme weather in both regions. The second season received a budget of million per episode; Ben Richardson directed all eight episodes, and Brian Tyler and Breton Vivian composed the score.
The season was released on the streaming platform Paramount+ from February 23 to April 6, 2025. Two soundtrack albums were released; the first on the day the season began and the second on the day it concluded, and home video sets were published in August. It received mostly positive reviews, particularly for its technical aspects such as acting, writing, costuming, cinematography, and political subtext; however, some commentators criticized the show's large cast, melodramatic feel, and a sadistic storyline featuring two sex workers. Season two was noted for its positive economic impact in Montana and Texas. It also set viewership records. The season received several accolades and award nominations, most notably for its locations, production design, and costumes, while media outlets pointed out its lack of Emmy Award nominations.
Cast and characters
Main Helen Mirren as Cara Dutton Harrison Ford as Jacob Dutton Brandon Sklenar as Spencer Dutton Julia Schlaepfer as Alexandra Dutton Jerome Flynn as Banner Creighton Darren Mann as Jack Dutton Isabel May as Elsa Dutton Brian Geraghty as Zane Davis Aminah Nieves as Teonna Rainwater Michelle Randolph as Elizabeth "Liz" Strafford Timothy Dalton as Donald Whitfield
Recurring Robert Patrick as Sheriff William McDowell Sebastian Roché as Father Jacques Renaud Madison Elise Rogers as Lindy Caleb Martin as Dennis Brian Konowal as Clyde Michael Spears as Runs His Horse Jamie McShane as Marshal Nathan Kent Jeremy Gauna as Pete Plenty Clouds Joy Osmanski as Alice Davis Jennifer Carpenter as Marshal Mamie Fossett
Guest Jo Ellen Pellman as Jennifer Mark Daneri as Dr. Steven Miller Colt Brown as Alec Sarah Randall Hunt as Ellie Creighton Ross Crain as Marshal Thomas Cailyn Rice as Christy Patrick Burch as Roy Garrett Andy Dispensa as Luca Maceo Gilles Marini as Salvatore "Sal" Maceo C. Thomas Howell as Anders Dougie Hall as Two Spears Brian Letscher as Dr. Shilling Mike Mizwicki as Walter Ridding Damien Leake as Marvin James Healy Jr. as Sheriff Hastings Hayley McFarland as Mary Janet Montgomery as Hillary Augustus Prew as Paul Chad Doreck as Bernard Anthony Virginia Gardner as Mabel Damon Carney as Dr. Andrew Henderson Steve Brudniak as Judge Reading
Episodes
Production Development While writing the first season of 1923, Taylor Sheridan, the creator and showrunner, realized the initial eight-episode order would not allow him to sufficiently conclude the story he had since developed. He contacted executives at Paramount+ and requested they order an additional eight episodes to give himself room to conclude the remaining arcs. Production companies 101 Studios and MTV Entertainment Studios had approved the order by October 2022, while Paramount officially announced the renewal in February 2023. 1923 is a prequel to and spin-off of the Paramount Network series Yellowstone, a sequel to 1883, and part of the Yellowstone franchise. Yellowstone co-creators Sheridan and John Linson, alongside David C. Glasser, Art Linson, Ron Burkle, David Hutkin, Bob Yari, Ben Richardson, Michael Friedman, and Keith Cox, were executive producers of the series. The second season of 1923 cost million per episode, totaling million. Yellowstone actor Mo Brings Plenty worked as the series' Native American affairs coordinator.
Casting
Harrison Ford and Helen Mirren were both initially contracted only for the first season, and by October 2022, negotiations to extend their contracts were underway. Ford and Mirren returned to the show, starring alongside Brandon Sklenar, Julia Schlaepfer, Jerome Flynn, Darren Mann, Brian Geraghty, Aminah Nieves, Michelle Randolph, and Timothy Dalton. Isabel May continued to narrate the show as Elsa Dutton, a character she originated in 1883. Jennifer Carpenter was cast in a recurring role as Deputy U.S. Marshal Mamie Fossett. Carpenter was first contacted about the series through an email that included a seven-page pitch; she sent in a self-recorded audition and was selected to take part in a screen test in Texas. Janet Montgomery, Augustus Prew, and Andy Dispensa joined the cast this season, playing the characters Hillary, Paul, and Luca, respectively. Robert Patrick, Sebastian Roché, Michael Spears, Joy Osmanski, Madison Elise Rogers, and Cailyn Rice also star.
Following the unexpected death of Cole Brings Plenty during the production hiatus, Sheridan decided he needed to recast Pete Plenty Clouds, the character Brings Plenty portrayed. The role was given to Jeremy Gauna, a friend of both Brings Plenty and his uncle, Mo Brings Plenty. Gauna had previously portrayed a Native American warrior in 1883 who handled the death of Elsa in that series. Guana said accepting the role was particularly difficult for himself and other cast and crew members, particularly Nieves, who cried upon seeing him in costume for the first time. However, he felt it was his purpose, believing it would cause people to remember Brings Plenty. In an interview, Nieves stated she initially struggled with grief and resentment during filming, but eventually overcame these feelings. The first episode featured an in memoriam tribute to Brings Plenty.
Writing Taylor Sheridan wrote the entire second season of 1923. Although he had not yet planned particular details, he knew how the season would end since he first pitched it. Despite it not being billed or promoted as such, Sheridan considered the entire series to be a single, two-part season. In contrast with season one, in which scripts were written as the show was being recorded, all season two episodes were written prior to the start of filming. The show's second season continues some of the plot threads that were unresolved at the conclusion of the first season. These include the Dutton ranch preparing for a harsh winter and attempts to prevent Whitfield from acquiring the property, battling cattle thieves, and the anticipation of Spencer's return to his Montana home. Spencer and his wife Alexandra are displaced from each other during the season. While Alexandra wants to reunite with Spencer in Montana, she faces migrating as a single, pregnant woman to the United States through Ellis Island, during which she is physically and sexually assaulted.
Whitfield is the season's primary antagonist, who wants to build a ski resort on the ranch. He frequently associates with Creighton, who is tasked with assembling a private militia to take it by force. As a subplot, Dalton's character was written to have a "sadistic punishment fetish". The arc explores his morality and the group power dynamics between him and two sex workers, Christy and Lindy, whom he has been holding hostage. Lindy later becomes his sexual partner. Whitfield provides the origin story for the train station, a frequent location in Yellowstone where major crimes go unpunished because the area is not populated. The location is inspired by the Zone of Death, a portion of Yellowstone National Park in Idaho where enforcement jurisdictions are not clear. Throughout the season, Creighton undergoes a redemption arc and ultimately sacrifices himself to help the Duttons and their ranch. A secondary storyline revolves around Geraghty's character's recovery from injuries he sustained after being arrested for interracial marriage in violation of anti-miscegenation laws.
The story surrounding Nieves' character resumes with her character, Teonna Rainwater, as a fugitive following her escape from an abusive Native American boarding school. This portion of the plot was derived from the historical existence of such schools. During this time, she is pursued by Father Renaud, the school's headmaster, and U.S. Marshal Kent, who functions as antagonists for the arc. Roché described Renaud's continued interest in finding Teonna as an obsession, which he believed resulted from negative admiration. Themes of egoism, extremism, and religion, as well as cultural assimilation of Native Americans and interracial relationships involving Native Americans are also explored in this storyline. The show also continues to explore the development of a romantic relationship between Teonna and Pete. Teonna's arc exists outside of the series' overall premise and does not intersect with the Dutton family.
A fictionalized version of Sal Maceo is featured this season after Spencer returns to the United States. Maceo was a bootlegger during the Roaring Twenties who founded a criminal organization called the Maceo Syndicate and ran an illegal gambling operation known as the Balinese Room, aspects of which were worked into the show. A new character to the plot is Mamie Fossett, a U.S. Marshal based in Anadarko, Oklahoma, who was also partially based on a real person; a marshal of the same name worked in Indian Territory at a time when female law-enforcement officials were uncommon. Carpenter attempted to research Fossett's life, but faced difficulty after finding that little had been written about her. Although Carpenter's character narrative has her primarily interact with Teonna, the fictionalized Fossett briefly meets with Spencer when she questions him as a suspect.