Yellowstone Spinoff 1883 to Continue Via Bass Reeves Story at Paramount+
More 1883 is coming to Paramount+ — just not in the way you may have expected.
The streamer announced Wednesday that its previously ordered Bass Reeves miniseries will in fact be an 1883 offshoot, officially titled 1883: The Bass Reeves Story.
The limited-run project will star Golden Globe nominee David Oyelowo (Selma) as Reeves, a legendary lawman of the Wild West. “Known as the greatest frontier hero in American history, and also believed to be the inspiration for The Lone Ranger, Reeves worked in the post-Reconstruction era as a federal peace officer in the Indian Territory, capturing over 3,000 of the most dangerous criminals without ever being wounded,” the logline describes.
Back in February, Paramount+ shared that “the next chapter” of 1883 — which is itself a spinoff of Paramount Network’s wildly successful Yellowstone — would premiere later in 2022, though it wasn’t clear at the time what the narrative focus of those episodes would be; Wednesday’s Bass Reeves announcement appears to offer some clarity.
As for the original 1883, which counted Sam Elliott, Faith Hill and Tim McGraw among its stars, series creator Taylor Sheridan revealed in February that the show was only envisioned as a one-season drama. Despite Bass Reeves‘ status as an 1883 spinoff, there are still no plans for the mothership to return.
“I created this peek through time to show you this one specific journey,” Sheridan told Deadline at the time, regarding 1883‘s future. “I’m not someone who likes to tie everything up in a bow and explain how everyone lived happily ever after, or didn’t… for me, as a storyteller it feels close-ended. I’m going to peek through the window of a different era and see what I see then.”
Speaking of different eras, the Yellowstone universe will continue expanding via the prequel series 1932, starring Harrison Ford and Helen Mirren. Per the official description, the show will “explore the early 20th century when pandemics, historic drought, the end of Prohibition and the Great Depression all plague the mountain west, and the Duttons who call it home.”
I’m in.
I adore David Oyelowo. He is terrific. First discovered him on Spooks.
Have you seen the movie Gringo? He was a hoot in that. :)
That’s where I first saw him. Love the actors, especially Nicola Walker. Just watched David in The Girl Before.
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Yellowstone is the gift that keeps on giving for Paramount +. Hope they don’t get burned out. Yellowstone is on my to watch list.
Ooh — he was really good in The Girl Before, too. The man is talented *and* versatile. :)
I haven’t watched Yellowstone yet, but I might have to check it out soon.
Im gonna watch thiss one also. Sheridan is making great epic tv shows. Im still hoping for 1883 S02.
I’m losing track of all these prequels, spin-offs, and off-shoots, lol.
Don`t worry i keep log on them and will watch em with you.. in bed. ;)
The bass Reeves story plus David I am in. I love sharing the children’s book of his life with students. They become such an attentive audience. I also love telling adults of the story. The Look on some people’s faces as you tell them and then if they start to Google to see if you’re telling them the truth. Bass Reeves was a great American hero. It’s about time everyone knows
I’m with you. I’m thrilled that they’re doing Bass Reeves ! What a story! They don’t even have to screw with the plot, it really is true. I only just learned about him a few years ago myself, and it seems that he just caught on about the same time. GREAT! I had looked around to see if anyone had made a movie, and “they” sort-of had, but a poor job. Looking forward to this.
I love the idea of doing a Bass Reeves series, but i dont understand why its got 1883 in front of it if theres no Duttons, this feels like its cashing in on the 1883 name.
I guess the 1883 will be the branching off point for all sorts of stories from the time frame and general setting… The westerns of my great grandparents and grandparents era really only looked a certain way and told a narrow set of stories… And while the complaints of races switching still seem to be lobbed all the time… Some segeme ts also won’t watch original ip’s for fear of “agendas” so maybe having the 1883 brand can lend some street.. Or on this case ranch-cred to stories that weren’t told before.. But should’ve been….
Or it could be a cash grab…. But ima hopeful gen z kid so I’ll go with option one
Bass Reeves is one of the greatest unsung heroes of American history. Everyone should know his story. He rose from slavery to be one of the most effective lawmen in the West. The Lone Ranger was based on him.
David is an African Bass Reeves was Not African . Bass Reeves Father was a red headed Caucasian Bass Reeves was a light skinned Mulatto with Red hair . The actor Jesse Williams is closer to what Bass Reeves actually looked liked he in Norway looked like David if he did he would not have been a Texas ranger. It seem almost every picture made about a person of color the Actors are Darker. Malcolm x was light skinned with green eyes but Denzel Washington was picked to play him .Rosa Parks was also a light skinned woman with straight hair she looked nothing like Angela Bassett .So it’s the same a thing as white washing . It s the same Disrespect. There are pictures of what these people actually looked like Not all people of Color has dark skin. To have Bass Reeves portrayed by an African is totally disrespectful and no different when he was portrayed as a Caucasian man
Oh, look a white Supremacist as entered the chat.
I really love David Oyelowo, so am very happy to read. That’s two greatBritish stars now involved with Taylor Sheridan. Thoroughly delighted.
Matching Bass Reeves with Yellowstone is going to be a task.
Bass was a very good Black lawman, working Arkansas, the Indian Territory and occasionally Texas – never known to have a reason to go to Montana – not logical law wise – nowhere near his jurisdiction.