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1883: Tom Hanks Is A General In New Yellowstone Prequel Show Image
Tom Hanks will appear in an episode of 1883, the upcoming Western series from Paramount+. The show will serve as a prequel to the hit drama Yellowstone, whose fourth season premiered last month to critical acclaim. Created by Hell or High Water screenwriter Taylor Sheridan and producer John Linson, Yellowstone stars Kevin Costner as the patriarch of a powerful family of Montana ranchers. The series follows the Duttons’ constant conflicts with nearby Native reservations, national parks, and each other.
1883 will trace the humble origins of the Dutton clan, tracking their 19th-century trek from Texas to Montana. The covered wagon epic stars Tim McGraw and Faith Hill as the series’ leads, with the real-life couple playing the Dutton patriarch, James, and matriarch, Margaret. They’re joined by their children, played by Audie Rick and Isabel May, the latter of whom narrates the series. Leading them on their expedition is hardened Civil War veteran Shea Brennan, played by Sam Elliott. 1883 isn’t Elliott’s first rodeo when it comes to Westerns - the mustachioed actor has appeared in Buffalo Girls and Tombstone.
Now, Deadline reports that Tom Hanks will appear in 1883 in a guest-starring role as a Union General. Episode two is set to feature a flashback scene of the grisly 1862 Battle of Antietam, the bloodiest day in American history. As battle-weary Confederate soldier James Dutton surveys the wreckage, Hanks—a three-star Union General—shows sympathy towards his enemy combatant. Hanks’ character is reportedly based on General George Meade, the army officer best known for defeating Robert E. Lee at the Battle of Gettysburg. Check out a picture of Hanks in his Union garb below.
Hanks isn’t the only notable guest star set to appear in 1883. Billy Bob Thornton was added to the cast as a guest star in September. The actor, known for his work in Monster’s Ball, Goliath, and Fargo, will take on the role of a U.S. Marshal in Fort Worth. Indeed, it’s a scene with the no-nonsense lawmaker that leads into the Battle of Antietam flashback, meaning fans can look forward to back-to-back appearances from Thornton and Hanks in episode two.
Hanks is an impressive get for the upcoming series, especially considering the actor’s small television presence, which usually manifests as brief cameos or voiceovers. For 1883 to secure the actor only confirms the success of Yellowstone. The show’s positive reception has seemingly emboldened Paramount Network to give showrunner Taylor Sheridan the budget and ability to hire high-profile talent, as well as to expand the universe of his ongoing series. As for Hanks, the actor may have jumped at the opportunity to appear in a Western. His first foray into the genre wasn’t until 2020’s News of the World, in which Hanks plays a former Confederate officer in 1870s Texas. With his 1883 guest appearance, Hanks will have the opportunity to tread familiar territory from the other side of the conflict. 1883 will debut in a special simulcast alongside a new episode of Yellowstone on December 19.
