1883 Season 2 - What We Know So Far

The fate of one generation of Duttons may be up in the air following the Season 1 episode "This Is Not Your Heaven," but the "Yellowstone" prequel's outlook is considerably brighter. According to The Hollywood Reporter, Paramount+ has ordered additional episodes of "1883." Taylor Sheridan's continuing saga of the Dutton clan follows James Dutton (Tim McGraw), his wife Margaret (Faith Hill), their son John (Audie Rick), and daughter Elsa as they make the arduous trek along the Oregon Trail searching for a piece of land to call home.

The beautifully shot "1883" is a televised CliffsNotes version of the Great Westward expansion told from Elsa's perspective. The series quickly establishes that the trip will be dangerous because Shea Brennan (Sam Elliott), whose job is to guide his charges safely to their destination, makes that much clear from the jump. Elsa's enthusiasm initially infuses the series with optimism that contradicts its otherwise bleak tone. However, throughout the season, "1883" chips steadily away at both the eldest Dutton child's and the viewers' naïveté. Every episode introduces new threats, and what starts as a sizable wagon train dwindles to a few disheartened survivors.

News about the additional episodes of "1883" shouldn't come as a surprise considering how popular its predecessor is and how well any Sheridan-created fare seems to go over with the public. "The incredible storytelling and stellar performances behind '1883' have fueled phenomenal new records for Paramount+," said Tanya Giles, chief programming officer for Paramount Streaming (via The Hollywood Reporter). Clearly, Paramount is eager to continue to benefit from Sheridan's Midas touch. Here's everything we know about Season 2 of "1883."

Paramount+ has ordered an undisclosed number of additional episodes of "1883" without officially designating them as Season 2. According to The Hollywood Reporter, extending the current season enables Paramount+ to avoid the salary negotiations that usually accompany additional season orders of a successful show. However, until Paramount confirms how these new episodes will be classified and what it means for casting, it's unclear how this will affect "1883" in the long run.

Similarly unclear is an expected release date for future episodes of "1883." Esquire speculates they could debut in late 2022, which may be an optimistic timeline given all of the high-profile projects Taylor Sheridan has in the works. In early February, Deadline confirmed "Yellowstone" will return for Season 5, and Variety reported "Mayor of Kingstown" is getting a second season. The "Yellowstone" universe is also expanding with another prequel, "1932," which "will follow a new generation of Duttons during the time of Westward expansion, Prohibition, and the Great Depression." Other upcoming Sheridan series include "Land Man," starring Billy Bob Thornton, "Lioness," starring Zoe Saldaña, and "Tulsa King," starring Sylvester Stallone, per THR.

So far, Paramount+ is keeping any and all plot details surrounding the future episodes of "1883" under wraps. Elsa's grim fate explains why the Duttons end up in Montana, although she is not alive to see the life her parents and brother build on this new land. That, it seems, will be the foundation of the next chapter of "1883": viewers following the Duttons as they lay down roots in the place they fought so hard (and lost so much) to get to. However, it's hard to imagine fans embracing "1883" if it strays too far from its current incarnation, abandoning fan favorites along the way.

"1883" Season 1 is available to stream in its entirety on Paramount+.