1923’s James Badge Dale On The Stunning Death Teased In The Series’ Opening Scenes – Looper

While the “Yellowstone” franchise made a name for itself with surprising character deaths, no one expected to see John Dutton Sr. meet his end so quickly in “1923.” “1883” first introduced the character as a young boy, so when James Badge Dale signed on to portray an older version of John in “1923,” many expected him to play a significant role throughout the spinoff. While that was the case, it wasn’t in the way anyone could see coming, as his death in Episode 3 serves as the spark for the Dutton family.

In an interview with The Hollywood Reporter, Dale reflected on what it was like playing John Dutton Sr., knowing “1923” teased his death in the show’s opening moments. “It’s such a beautiful moment,” the actor admitted. “That’s the way I look at it: is that the first three episodes are kind of a prologue. This is where the story starts. With the first scene you see in episode one, that’s the beginning of the story. Cara is willfully involving herself in the violence to end things. And that’s where we are now.” He also reminisced about what filming was like that day, casually mentioning arriving to ride horses and do “a couple of gunfights with Harrison Ford.” That was his last day on set, and it’s hard to imagine a cooler sendoff.

In another interview with Deadline, Dale said he felt honored to play even a tiny part in Taylor Sheridan’s greater story. He understands that John Dutton Sr.’s death is the catalyst that gets Spencer to come home, but if Sheridan wants him back as a ghost, Dale is on the first plane back to Montana.