1923 season 2 will leave Montana and shoot in a new location, according to a new report. Serving as a prequel to Yellowstone and a sequel to 1883, Paramount Plus series 1923 follows Jacob and Cara Dutton (Harrison Ford and Helen Mirren, respectively) as they navigate life at their ranch in Montana following World War I. After the show earned positive reviews and was a viewership hit in 2022, 1923 season 2 was confirmed in February 2023, though few updates have emerged since.
Now, a new report from Austin Business Journal reveals that 1923 season 2 will not be returning to film in Montana, and will instead be moving production to ATX Film Studios in South Austin, Texas. Season 1 also filmed in South Africa, Malta, and Kenya, but it’s unclear if any additional location shooting outside of Texas will occur on season 2. Chief executive of Butte-Silver Bow County J.P. Gallagher shared the following statement to Montana Standard about the decision:
“The decision to film the Yellowstone series of ‘1923’ in Texas is disappointing. Nevertheless, we respect the production team’s decision and acknowledge that these choices are influenced by factors beyond our control.
“We were in talks with the production about ‘1923’ coming back to Butte because of the positive experience they had here, but state tax incentive programs were a major factor for the production to move to Texas.”
Montana Has Been Crucial To The Yellowstone Universe
Will The Move To Texas Have An Effect On 1923 Season 2?
In many ways, it’s not hard to see the Yellowstone universe as one big love letter to the state of Montana. Yellowstone takes place and is primarily filmed in the state, chronicling patriarch John Dutton’s (Kevin Costner) attempts to protect his land. 1883 doesn’t start in Montana, but it does end up there, with filming having begun in Texas before concluding in Montana. Paradise Valley, in particular, becomes a key part of the emotional 1883 ending.
Montana is also a central location in 1923 as Jacob and Cara contend with droughts, Prohibition, and even the early days of the Great Depression. The location doesn’t just provide a beautiful backdrop for the action and the arcs of the 1923 cast, but the state’s real-world history, to a certain degree, plays into the larger story being told. The Yellowstone universe and Montana, then, have long been closely linked.
It remains to be seen what effect the 1923 season 2 move to Texas will have on the show, but it’s likely there won’t be a drastic change in visuals. It’s also possible that the season’s storyline will somehow explain this change. Many questions remain about 1923 season 2, but the new season is evidently leaving a core part of the show’s identity behind.
