The Paramount+ series “1923” is the latest expansion of Taylor Sheridan’s “Yellowstone” universe, and it’s an especially stellar expansion at that.
Harrison Ford and Helen Mirren star in “1923,” with Ford portraying the brother of the character played by Tim McGraw in “1883” (yes, the Dutton family tree is getting a little complicated) and Mirren as his loving wife. . The first scene of the first episode, which you can stream now, has Mirren killing a man with a shotgun, if that tells you what kind of tough-as-nails frontierswoman she plays.
TheWrap talks to Mirren about what it was about “1923” that got her signed on, if she learned anything from cowboy camp, and what it’s like reuniting with Ford for the first time since “The Mosquito Coast” Was.
What was it about “1923” that spoke to you?
Well, many things. Probably very, very early in my decision was the fact that Harrison was involved. It immediately raised the stakes very high. I already knew that Taylor Sheridan was apparently the producer. This was a hugely important element in the process because of his track record. And of course I’m not talking about “Yellowstone”. I’m actually talking about things like “Wind River” and “Hell or High Water”. And I love all his movies. So he was in an incredible, important element.
And then I think you’re looking at American history in a very adult way, and the way you really have time to connect the dots of history to understand how America developed, how technology developed Hui. It was a combination of those things.
I agreed to do it without reading any script. There was no script available for reading. I really didn’t know. I mean, obviously I had an outline of the story. It’s a couple, living on a farm, and they have a struggle. That was all I knew. But I didn’t read any script. And I signed on without really knowing what I was doing, but with great enthusiasm. And I think now that I’m in the middle of it, I’m very grateful for the fact that I’m involved in it and it’s going to become a very important part of my filmography.
Once you got the role did you go back and do a “Yellowstone” deep dive?
No, I watched “1883” because I thought it was more relevant to what we’re actually doing, and I liked it. I thought it was a masterpiece, a masterpiece. And not just in the writing, but in the way it felt, the reality it felt with, the type of filmmaking that was used. And I knew we would have the same experience.
You and Harrison co-starred in “Mosquito Coast”. Since then are you working together for the first time?
Yes, it’s been since “Mosquito Coast,” but I think it’s interesting that the last thing we did was “Mosquito Coast” because it required a sense of adventure. We shot that in the jungles of Belize when Belize was not a relatively sophisticated place, when it was very raw and rough and undeveloped. It was literally going like a jungle outing. And it meant that we both had a sense of adventure and that was really a precursor to the fact that we both signed up for it. I think it shows that we have a similar kind of adventurous spirit.
You have a lot of television experience. Did “1923” correspond to that?
But no, because I mean, really the way we film, we film very fast with a lot of cameras and I’ve never worked like that before. The TV work I’ve done is very similar to traditional filmmaking and it’s different from that. I think it’s really a first for both of us. And I love working like this. To say you have to work very, very, very fast with multiple cameras. And I find it a really exciting way to do it. I like this.
Do you have any experience riding horses and doing the cowboy stuff required for “1923”?
I’ve actually ridden a horse many times, but I can’t ride. I have fallen off my horse many times. And I’m old now. I told Taylor early on, “I don’t ride, I can’t ride.” And thinking that he would probably say, “Well, it’s okay. We’ll teach you. But glad he didn’t say that. He said, “No, it’s all right. I’m going to put you in a buggy.” As we say in England, I learned to ride a buggy, to drive a buggy, to drive a horse and a cart. But I didn’t have to learn to ride. It gave me a lot of relief.
I’m assuming you didn’t need to go to cowboy camp.
Well, I learned to ride my buggy at cowboy camp.
Did you learn anything else from that experience?
No, horses are so wonderful. I mean, I love cows. i love cows I have to admit they are great. And I’m not afraid of cows and I’m not afraid of horses. This was the limit. I certainly didn’t learn how to kick a calf to the ground or lasso a cow or anything.
After you started filming, they announced that there was going to be a Season 2. Are you excited to extend your time in “Yellowstone” country?
Yes. It’s been a journey into the unknown, a wholesome experience, and very, very exciting, so, really. This is more real life. None of us knows what is going to happen to us tomorrow. I liked the element that you’re not sure what’s coming down the line. So yes, I am very happy thinking of coming back and going on this trip again.
“1923” is out now on Paramount+.
