Warning: Spoilers ahead for 1883, 1923, and Yellowstone!
The Duttons have a rich family tree supporting theYellowstonefranchise, and the second outing of1923can piece together a mysterious gap in the fabric of Taylor Sheridan’s neo-Western.The Dutton family tree inYellowstonebegins with the story of Margaret and James Dutton in1883.Real-life partners and country musicians Tim McGraw and Faith Hill kick off theYellowstonetimeline with their family’s northwestern journey from Texas to Montana. TheYellowstone 1883castincludes James and Margaret’s children, John (Audie Rick) and Elsa (Isabel May) Dutton.
Sadly, the whole Dutton family barely survives the journey, and the Dutton timeline continues with James' brother, Harrison Ford’s Jacob Dutton, in1923.Paramount+ released the first season of the Depression-era saga on July 17, 2025, and the show is preparing for its comeback two years later. Jacob and his wife, Helen Mirren’s Cara, take over the ranch when James and Margaret meet their fate, raising the next generation of Dutton ranchers as their own.1923adds the Duttons' youngest son, Spencer (Brandon Sklenar), and the1923characteris at the heart of an unsolved Dutton family mystery.
The Dutton Family Tree Still Has A Mystery About John II’s Father
1923 Can Connect The Dots
Despite the rich history of the Dutton family line,we still don’t know how Kevin Costner’s John Dutton III relates to his predecessors. We know that Dabney Coleman’s John Dutton II is the father of Costner’s character.Yellowstoneseason 2, episode 10, “Sins of the Father,” introduces John Dutton II. John Sr. goes on one last horseback ride with John Dutton III, and they travel to a special spot where John Sr. advises Costner’s character to never let anyone take"a goddamn inch"of the ranch away. Then the character passes away with his head on John’s shoulder.
1883
1923
Yellowstone(mentioned)
Seventh
Yellowstoneestablishes how John II’s story ends, but there’s little information about how it begins.Sheridan has not confirmed John Dutton II and III’s linkto the prequel characters. Wes Bentley’s Jamie Dutton announces that his father is a fifth-generation Montana rancher while setting up John Dutton’s Montana governor acceptance speech, so we can deduce that John Dutton II was part of the fourth generation. The plot suggests that John’s father could be Jack Dutton (Darren Man), a third-generation Dutton, but plenty of buzz surrounds the theory thatSpencer’s whirlwind romance in1923is the missing link to John Dutton II.
1923 Season 2 Images Shows Spencer & Jack’s Story Continuing, Which Could Include An Answer
The Duttons' Journey Continues In 1923
Peopleshared1923season 2 imagesahead of its August 04, 2025 release, and they confirm the continuation ofYellowstone’s biggest mystery.The1923images confirm that Spencer and Jack are alive and well in season 2, meaning that anything is still possible. Buzz exists around the possibility that Spencer dies at the end of the prequel’s second outing. Even if that’s true, Spencer could still conceive an heir to the ranch before his untimely death. Sklenar says the following about1923’s ending (viaForbes):
I mean, the finale of the series is probably one of the best things I’ve read in my life. I’ve kind of known how it was going to end since day one - Taylor [Sheridan] kind of told me. I knew the full arc of Spencer from day one, so in shooting part one, you’re mindful of where he needs to go. I’m really excited.
How Spencer Dutton Could Die In 1923 Season 2, Explained By Brandon Sklenar
Spencer Dutton died sometime between 1923 season 1 and Yellowstone, and actor Brandon Sklenar has a theory about how it could happen in 1923 season 2.
Thetrailers for1923season 2confirm that Spencer, Alexandra (Julia Schlaepfer), Jack, and Elizabeth Strafford (Michelle Randolph) all return for the second outing. All of John Dutton II’s prospective parents officially returning for the next installment signals that1923will continue to play out the Dutton familymystery in season 2. While the timing makes sense that Jack is John Dutton II’s true father,1923season 2 leaves the door open for all the tantalizing possibilities.
Yellowstone
Yellowstoneis a neo-Western drama series created by Taylor Sheridan and John Linson, centered on the Dutton family and their fight to protect the Yellowstone Dutton Ranch from various adversaries, including land developers and nearby reservations. Premiering in 2018 on Paramount Network, the show has been praised for its depiction of power struggles, family loyalty, and rural conflicts. It has expanded into a franchise with spin-offs such as1883and1923, and an upcoming sequel series is in development.
