Yellowstone Franchise Hit With Setback As 1923 Season 2 Filming Gets Delayed Indefinitely

The Yellowstone franchise now faces a new obstacle, as the filming for 1923 season 2 is delayed indefinitely. The notable entry in the expanding Yellowstone universe features screen icons, Harrison Ford and Helen Mirren, as it serves as a sequel show to 1883. It centers around the Dutton family during the titular year of 1923, which was a time of historical events that included Western Expansion, Prohibition, and the Great Depression. Bolstered by strong ratings and good reviews, 1923 season 2 was confirmed by Paramount+ in February 2023.

According to NBC Montana, the 1923 season 2 production has been indefinitely delayed due to the ongoing writers’ strike for fair wages. Per the reporting, production was supposed to return to Butte, Montana which is also where season 1 was filmed. Bill Melvin, the manager of Butte’s Civic Center, which 1923 pays to utilize, adds that the location is ready to be used once a resolution to the strike is reached.

Yellowstone’s Uncertain Future, Explained

1923‘s season 2 delay is perhaps expected, given that several major shows have been impacted by the WGA strike, but it adds to the ongoing shifts happening with the Yellowstone franchise. Reports of those shifts began gaining traction when it first emerged that the hit Western could end sooner than anticipated because of scheduling disagreements with Costner. The actor reportedly demanded to only work for one single week through the second half of Yellowstone 

season 5, which is set to debut later this year, although that premiere window has also been made more uncertain because of the realities of the WGA strike.

Paramount Network, which airs Yellowstone, said at the time that it had no comment on the Costner situation. Costner’s attorney, meanwhile, called the reports an “absolute lie.” Speculation regarding the conflict continued to gain steam in May when it was confirmed that Yellowstone would be ending with season 5 and that Paramount was moving forward with a follow-up sequel series that’s led by McConaughey and which would not include Costner.

It has since been reported that several original Yellowstone actors could potentially join the Oscar-winning McConaughey for the spinoff. As several question marks remain, including Costner’s rumored request to approve how his character is written off, there’s also a potential actors’ strike to keep an eye on. With the 1923 season 2 production on hold, it brings another wrinkle for the Yellowstone franchise since the upcoming season is supposed to conclude the remaining stories. When the hiatus ends remains uncertain, and it will likely push back the premiere date for season 2 even longer.