"Yellowstone" Prequel "1923" Season 2 Production Delayed Indefinitely due to Writers Strike

The second season of the "Yellowstone" prequel series "1923" is the latest big-budget project to fall victim to delays as a result of the Writers' Guild of America (WGA) strike taking place in the United States.

Production for the second season of the prequel was scheduled to start earlier this month in Montana but production has now been “delayed indefinitely.”

According to a report from NBC Montana, Butte Civic Center manager Bill Melvin said he was contacted by the production of the series that filming had been postponed as the WGA strike continues.

Filming for the sophomore season was set to begin on Monday, June 5, with production paying $75,000 a month to use the Civic Center through the end of the year.

Creator Taylor Sheridan was already eyeing two seasons for the Paramount+ series, however, the network officially confirmed a second eight-episode season earlier this year to conclude the saga starring Harrison Ford and Helen Mirren.

"1923" introduces a new generation of Duttons led by patriarch Jacob (Ford) and matriarch Cara (Mirren). The series explores the early 20th century when pandemics, historic drought, and the end of Prohibition all plague the mountain west and the Duttons who call it home.

The series also stars Brandon Sklenar, Darren Mann, Michelle Randolph, James Badge Dale, Marley Shelton, Brian Geraghty, Aminah Nieves, Jerome Flynn, and Julia Schlaepfer.

On May 2, a significant event unfolded as the board of directors of the WGA, comprised of the East and West councils, reached a unanimous decision to initiate a strike.

The move came after unsuccessful negotiations with AMPTA regarding the terms of their film and TV contracts.

The strike focus is advocating for an increase in base salary to reflect the recent advancements made in the industry along with safer working conditions and job security. Additionally, there is a pressing need for reassurance concerning the utilization of AI in scriptwriting.

The last occurrence of such a strike took place in 2007 and extended over several months, resulting in substantial financial losses amounting to billions of dollars for Hollywood.