Taylor Sheridan’s Yellowstone prequel premieres Dec. 19 on Paramount Network and Paramount+.
Great news for fans of C&I reader favorite Sam Elliott: The Oscar-nominated star is back in the saddle again for 1883, producer-writer Taylor Sheridan’s epic prequel series to his enormously popular Yellowstone.
Set to premiere simultaneously on Paramount Network and Paramount+ at 9pm ET Sunday, Dec. 19, 1883 showcases Elliott as Shea Brennan, a Civil War veteran with a tragic past and an uncertain future. Along with his partner Thomas, a Pinkerton agent played by LaMonica Garrett, Brennan signs on to guide a wagon train of immigrant settlers from Fort Worth to a new promised land.
Also along for the ride: Ancestors of Yellowstone paterfamilias John Dutton (Kevin Coster), including John’s great-grandfather James Dutton (Tim McGraw), John’s wife Margaret (Faith Hill) — and their daughter Elsa (Isabel May), who serves as narrator for the series. Other characters — played by such notables as Billy Bob Thornton, Graham Greene, Martin Sensmeier and (fleetingly) Tom Hanks — will come as go as the westward journey progresses.
I had the pleasure of speaking with Sam Elliott after last weekend's 1883 premiere at the Wynn Las Vegas Resort Hotel. We spoke about his role on the series, his experiences working with Taylor Sheridan, Tim McGraw and Billy Bob Thornton — and, since we’re nearing Christmas, his memories of the holiday-themed 1989 movie Prancer.
Just in case you're curious: Here is the original trailer for the 1989 family film Prancer, now available for streaming on Amazon Prime, Vudu.com, and Apple TV.