M-Net is pleased to announce that the channel will be expanding the Yellowstone universe with the acquisition of the popular prequels – 1883 and 1923 – which will be coming to viewers in April and June of this year. The highly anticipated shows will delve into the history of some of Yellowstone’s most iconic characters and provide viewers with a gripping backstory to the critically acclaimed series.

Yellowstone has become one of the most watched series on television today, leaving viewers at the edge of their seats with its intense and high-stakes drama. The prequels will offer fans an entirely new perspective on the Yellowstone story, providing a glimpse into the complex lives that have shaped the region and its people. The prequels will also serve as a gateway for new audiences to fall in love with the world of Yellowstone. Whether you are an avid fan or a first-time viewer, these prequels are not to be missed.

The first of the prequels 1883 (having started on Thursday 13 April at 21:00) is a stark retelling of Western expansion, and an intense study of one family fleeing poverty in Texas to seek a better future in America’s promised land – Montana. Real-life couple Tim McGraw and Faith Hill star as James Dutton and Margaret Dutton, while Sam Elliott (won Outstanding Performance by a Male Actor in a Television Movie or Limited Series at this year’s Screen Actors Guild Awards) portrays Shea Brennan, a tough cowboy with sadness in his past. Other cast members include Isabel May (playing Elsa Dutton), LaMonica Garrett (Thomas) and Dawn Olivieri (Claire Dutton). Billy Bob Thornton will guest star and Tom Hanks cameos in a Civil War flashback scene.

The second prequel 1923, spans 8-episodes (starting Thursday, 22 June at 21:00) and carries on the storyline from 1883 – with a slightly new generation of characters. Viewers will see how the Dutton family progressed with their newfound power and land ownership in Montana during the time of western expansion, Prohibition, and the Great Depression. But here’s the kicker: Legendary Hollywood stars Helen Mirren and Harrison Ford are set to take the lead roles as Cara and Jacob Dutton. Variety shared: “Mirren and Ford make for such a potent pairing; their chemistry alone is enough to make 1923 feel like an elevated version of Sheridan’s neo-Western fare.”

A new episode of 1883 will air every Thursday from 13 April and a new episode of 1923 from Thursday 22 June, with episodes loaded onto Catch Up after broadcast.