So, you’ve probably spent the last few months (or years, let’s be real) obsessing over that brutal 1923 finale. If you're like me, you’re still sort of reeling from the frostbite, the heartbreak, and the fact that we finally have a baby John Dutton II. But the big question hanging over the entire Taylor Sheridan universe right now is basically this: Will Spencer Dutton be in 1944?
It’s the question that keeps the Reddit threads alive at 2 a.m.
Honestly, the short answer is a resounding "probably," but it’s way more complicated than just a yes or no. We aren't just talking about a cameo here. We are talking about the man who basically carried the entire emotional weight of the first prequel series on his broad, safari-jacketed shoulders.
The Facts: Is Spencer Still Kickin'?
Let's look at what we actually know for a fact. In the 1923 Season 2 finale, which honestly felt like a fever dream, Elsa Dutton’s narration dropped a massive bomb. She confirmed that Spencer lived for another 45 years after the birth of his son, John.
Wait. Do the math.
If Spencer survived 45 years after 1924, he was alive until roughly 1969. That means in the year 1944, Spencer isn't just alive; he’s probably the patriarch of the Yellowstone. He’d be in his late 50s or early 60s—still very much a force to be reckoned with.
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He’s the bridge. He saw the end of the frontier, fought in the Great War, survived the Great Depression, and now he’s staring down the barrel of World War II. It’s a lot for one guy.
Will Brandon Sklenar actually come back?
This is where things get kinda tricky. Fans love Brandon Sklenar. He brought this quiet, brooding intensity to Spencer that made us all forgive the fact that it took him roughly forever to actually get home to Montana.
In a bunch of interviews—including some pretty recent ones on the Today show and with Men’s Journal—Sklenar has been asked point-blank about returning for 1944. His vibe? He’s totally game. He even joked about wanting to see himself with "frosted tips and crows feet."
"If there’s a 1944, and there’s a Spencer Dutton, I’ll read for him," Sklenar told reporters.
But there’s a catch. Since 1944 takes place twenty years after the events of 1923, the production has two choices:
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- They use heavy "old man" makeup on Sklenar (which can look hit-or-miss).
- They recast the role with an older actor, much like how they transitioned from Tim McGraw’s James Dutton to Harrison Ford’s Jacob.
Personally, I think Sheridan might lean into the makeup or perhaps use Sklenar for flashbacks. There’s a rumor that 1944 might use a dual-timeline structure, showing us the "gap years" between the two shows. If that happens, Sklenar is a lock.
What about Alexandra?
This is the part that still hurts. We saw the tragic end for Alex in the 1923 finale. Necrosis and hypothermia are a brutal way to go, even by Yellowstone standards.
Since she's gone, Spencer in 1944 is a widower. Elsa’s narration mentioned that he never remarried but was "intimate with another woman." This opens up a whole new can of worms for the 1944 plot. Who is this second woman? Does she have a claim to the ranch?
It’s likely that 1944 will focus heavily on Spencer’s son, John Dutton II, who would be about 20 years old in this new series. He’s the perfect age to be drafted for the war. Imagine the drama: Spencer, a WWI hero, watching his only son head off to the same kind of hell he barely escaped.
The Production Reality
Look, Taylor Sheridan is the busiest man in Hollywood. Between The Madison, Dutton Ranch (the Rip and Beth spinoff), and whatever else he's cooking up, 1944 is still in the "deep development" phase.
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Most industry insiders are pointing to a production start date in late 2025. That means we probably won't actually see Spencer on our screens until late 2026.
It’s a wait. A long one.
Why Spencer’s Presence Matters for the 7 Generations
There’s this whole prophecy from 1883 about the Duttons losing the land after seven generations. If Spencer is the main figure in 1944, he is the one who has to hold the line during the most chaotic period in American history.
He isn't just a character; he's the guardian of the lineage. Without him, the link to Kevin Costner’s John Dutton III (who was born in 1956) gets real fuzzy.
What You Should Do Now
While we wait for an official casting announcement for 1944, the best move is to keep an eye on Taylor Sheridan’s upcoming project F.I.R.E., which also stars Brandon Sklenar. It’s a good sign that the two are still working together. Usually, when Sheridan likes an actor, he keeps them in the "family" across multiple shows.
Also, if you haven't re-watched the final episodes of 1923 with the subtitles on, do it. Elsa's narration contains specific clues about Spencer's later life that most people missed on the first pass.
Pay close attention to mentions of "the widow" and the "second son." Those are the breadcrumbs leading directly to the 1944 plotline.