Taylor Sheridan’s redefining the Yellowstone universe. While most spinoffs thrive on nostalgia, one of his creations was built for a whole new audience. No prior knowledge of the Dutton saga? No problem. Sheridan wanted this series to stand on its own, letting fresh viewers dive in without feeling lost.
It’s a bold move, but if anyone can pull it off, it’s the mastermind behind TV’s biggest neo-Western empire. So, which Yellowstone spinoff was made for newcomers?
Taylor Sheridan made 1883 for fans who never watched Yellowstone
Taylor Sheridan didn’t just expand the Yellowstone universe; he reinvented it. The mastermind behind the hit franchise admitted that 1883 was designed to live on its own merits, crafted for both Yellowstone diehards and total newcomers.
Speaking with Deadline, Sheridan revealed that 1883 wasn’t about setting up future Dutton tales but delivering a complete story. He wanted viewers to be completely enthralled and fulfilled without needing Yellowstone as a reference point. Sure, there were Easter eggs for longtime fans, but the prequel stood tall on its own.
The series followed James (Tim McGraw) and Margaret Dutton (Faith Hill) on a grueling trek westward, but Sheridan never planned a neat, bow-tied ending. He explained, preferring audiences to imagine how characters like Thomas and Noemi fared after the journey:
I created this peek through time to show you this one specific journey. I’m not someone who likes to tie everything up in a bow and explain how everyone lived happily after, or didn’t. I’d rather you imagine it, and wonder what Thomas and Noemi made of their lives. You never get to see how James and Margaret move on.
You did seem them in a flashback as having moved on, and so that’s what I cared to explore. On to the next peek through the window. I also wanted to create something you could watch and be completely enthralled and fulfilled, having never seen Yellowstone.
Sheridan continued,
Let it live on its own merits. Yes for those fans of Yellowstone, there are some real Easter eggs and understanding you can take away from that, that informs the way you watch Yellowstone. I like that model. For me, as a storyteller it feels close ended. I’m going to peek through the window of a different era and see what I see then.
So, was 1883 just a one-off? Pretty much. Sheridan had already set his sights on 1923, another peek through time that explored the Duttons in a whole new era. To him, these weren’t spinoffs but distinct sagas with common roots. His goal? Every chapter should stand alone, even for those who never watched Yellowstone or 1883.
With 1923 and more projects in the works, Sheridan stayed true to his vision, crafting gripping, era-spanning tales that honored the past but never felt chained to it.
Taylor Sheridan’s Sicario makes a surprise comeback on Netflix
Taylor Sheridan’s Sicario is back in the spotlight, cracking Netflix’s U.S. Top 10 nearly a decade after its 2015 debut. The Denis Villeneuve-directed thriller, starring Emily Blunt, Josh Brolin, and Benicio del Toro, hit Netflix on March 1, 2025, and it didn’t take long to climb the charts.
Within two days, it snagged the No. 8 spot, standing tall against newer releases like Venom: The Last Dance. By March 7, it had surged to No. 2. Not bad for a film that originally grossed $85 million on a $30 million budget.
What’s fueling the resurgence? Sheridan’s dominance in Hollywood, Villeneuve’s Dune buzz, and a cast that never stopped delivering hits. Netflix’s algorithm knows a gem when it sees one, and Sicario is once again proving why it’s a crime thriller masterpiece.
Watch Yellowstone on Max and 1883 on Paramount plus.
This post belongs to FandomWire and first appeared on FandomWire
