1923 season 2 will be the end of the Yellowstone prequel, and here’s what it means for Taylor Sheridan’s Yellowstone franchise. Premiering February 23 on Paramount+, 1923 season 2 continues the saga of Jacob Dutton (Harrison Ford) and Cara Dutton (Helen Mirren) defending their Montana ranch from adversaries keen on taking their land. Meanwhile, Spencer Dutton (Brandon Sklenar) hurries home from Africa to help his family wage war, despite being separated from his new English bride, Alexandra (Julia Schlaepfer).

Yellowstone, Taylor Sheridan’s present-day-set neo-Western starring Kevin Costner as John Dutton III, became one of the biggest shows on television throughout its five seasons on the Paramount Network. Yellowstone’s success spawned a franchise detailing the history of the Dutton clan in Montana, starting with the prequel 1883, which streamed on Paramount+ for one season. 1923 picks up the Duttons’ story 40 years later. Yellowstone also sparked a growing franchise of TV shows on Paramount+ executive produced by Taylor Sheridan, including Mayor of Kingstown, Tulsa King, and Landman.

1923 Season 2 Is The Final Season, But Not The End Of Yellowstone
The Saga Of Jacob & Cara Dutton Is Coming To An End

1923 season 2 is also the final season of Harrison Ford and Helen Mirren’s Yellowstone prequel. 1923 was designed by Taylor Sheridan to run for two seasons of eight episodes each. After 1923 season 1’s successful December 2022 premiere, Paramount+ renewed 1923 for season 2 on February 2023 with the actors returning to wrap up this chapter of the Yellowstone Dutton Ranch in Montana.

1923 season 2 concludes the second chapter of the Duttons’ family timeline, but the Yellowstone saga is far from over. Yellowstone is growing beyond the Duttons’ history while continuing the s tory of some of Yellowstone’s main characters, like Beth Dutton (Kelly Reilly) and Rip Wheeler (Cole Hauser). Yellowstone is a cornerstone of Taylor Sheridan’s expansive TV empire and a major IP Paramount is keen to continue after the end of the original Yellowstone TV series.

Why Yellowstone’s Main Show Ended With Season 5
Kevin Costner’s Departure Doomed Yellowstone

Yellowstone aired its final episode with the season 5 finale on December 15, 2024. Yellowstone season 5 was planned to be split into two parts, with Yellowstone season 5’s first 8 episodes airing on Paramount Network from November 13, 2022, to January 1, 2023. However, this production schedule clashed with series star Kevin Costner’s plans to direct his own Western movie saga, Horizon: An American Saga. Costner ultimately chose not to return to film the second half of Yellowstone season 5.

Yellowstone’s season 5 finale is effectively the end of the main series.

After Kevin Costner exited Yellowstone, Paramount and Taylor Sheridan made the decision to kill off Costner’s John Dutton character. The remaining 6 episodes of Yellowstone season 5 became about his children, Beth and Kayce Dutton (Luke Grimes), coping with John’s death and deciding the future of the Yellowstone Dutton Ranch. Yellowstone’s season 5 finale is effectively the end of the main series. However, Yellowstone’s story isn’t over.

Yellowstone’s 4 Spinoffs Explained
The Yellowstone Story Will Continue

Even with the original Yellowstone series now concluded, followed by 1923 after season 2, Yellowstone has four spinoffs in various stages of development. Before Yellowstone wrapped season 5, Paramount announced a spinoff about Beth Dutton and Rip Wheeler. Yellowstone season 5’s finale set up what’s next for Beth and Rip after they moved on from the now-sold and defunct Yellowstone Dutton Ranch.

Currently in production, The Madison, starring Michelle Pfeiffer and Matthew Fox, is a present-day-set Yellowstone spinoff about a New York City couple moving to Montana. The Madison is the next series to expect from the Yellowstone saga. Another Dutton prequel, 1944, was greenlit by Paramount, as well. Taylor Sheridan is also developing a spinoff about the 6666 Ranch seen in Yellowstone, which could star Jefferson White, who played Jimmy in Yellowstone. Even after 1923 season 2 ends, there is plenty more Yellowstone on the horizon.