John Orquiola is a New & Classic TV Editor, Senior Writer, and Interviewer with a special focus on Star Trek. John has over 4,000 published articles at SR, and he has interviewed the biggest names in Star Trek on the red carpet and VIP events, among other beloved shows, movies, and franchises.

Taylor Sheridan’s TV empire at Paramount includes Landman, Tulsa King, Mayor of Kingstown, and Special Ops: Lioness, but it was built upon the phenomenal success of Yellowstone, which became a franchise with the spinoff prequels 1883 and 1923.

Yellowstone‘s flagship series ended in 2024, but 2026 will bring three new Yellowstone spinoffs: Y: Marshals on CBS, The Dutton Ranch, and The Madison, with the latter shows streaming on Paramount+. Y: Marshals is about Kayce Dutton (Luke Grimes), and The Dutton Ranch centers on Beth Dutton (Kelly Reilly) and Rip Wheeler (Cole Hauser).

Before Taylor Sheridan exits Paramount, he must confirm another rumored Yellowstone spinoff, 1944, and bring back Brandon Sklenar as Spencer Dutton, the fan favorite hero of 1923.

1923 streamed for two seasons on Paramount+, with Harrison Ford and Helen Mirren headlining the prequel as Jacob and Cara Dutton. However, the rugged and heroic Spencer Dutton carried 1923′s action and romance, with Spencer’s doomed love story with Alexandra of Sussex (Julia Schlaepfer).

Brandon Sklenar wants to reprise Spencer Dutton in 1944, and audiences want to see more of the handsome lion hunter. Taylor Sheridan has to lock down Brandon Sklenar’s comeback as Spencer Dutton in 1944 as a surefire bet to create excitement for the third Yellowstone prequel.

Brandon Sklenar Could Join Yellowstone History With A Spencer Dutton Comeback

It’s possible that if 1944 goes forward, Taylor Sheridan could recast the 20-years-older Spencer Dutton. Brandon Sklenar is in demand in movies, and Sheridan has recast iconic Duttons before, like Josh Lucas playing the younger version of Kevin Costner’s John Dutton III in Yellowstone.

However, if Brandon Sklenar does reprise Spencer Dutton in 1944, he would join his fellow Dutton actors to play their same characters in two Yellowstone series. Sklenar would be in excellent company with returning Yellowstone icons, including Luke Grimes, Kelly Reilly, Cole Hauser, and Gil Birmingham.

Spencer Dutton may have been rash and didn’t always make sound decisions, but the romantic lion hunter is one of the best Duttons in the Yellowstone saga. Locking down Brandon Sklenar’s comeback as Spencer Dutton in 1944 would be a sound decision by Taylor Sheridan before he leaves Paramount.