Is the Baby in ‘1923’ Connected to Kevin Costner’s John Dutton?
Is the Baby in ‘1923’ Related to Kevin Costner’s John Dutton?
As the finale of 1923 wrapped up, many fans are left wondering whether the baby introduced in the series is connected to Kevin Costner’s character, John Dutton III, from Yellowstone.
This seems like a natural assumption since the baby—born to Spencer Dutton and his wife, Alex—is named John, as revealed in the finale. If you haven’t watched the 1923 finale that aired on April 6, 2025, proceed with caution.
1923 continues the Dutton family saga that began with the prequel 1883, gradually moving the timeline forward toward the present-day Yellowstone series. The franchise’s next prequel will take place in 1944, bridging the gap even further.
Could There Be Another John Dutton?
The season ended with a tragic twist. After a grueling journey through a snowstorm to reach the family ranch, Alex develops hypothermia and is near death. Spencer finds her just in time, bringing her to a hospital. Sadly, Alex dies shortly after giving birth to baby John.
The series also reveals that Spencer never remarries, although he later has a child with a widow. Since Spencer’s story concludes at the end of 1923, it’s likely we’ll see more of him in the upcoming 1944 series.
However, the family tree may complicate the assumption that this baby John is Kevin Costner’s character’s father. Some sources describe Tim McGraw’s character from 1883, James Dutton, as John Dutton III’s great-great-grandfather. Since Spencer is James Dutton’s son, his son John would be Costner’s character’s grandfather, not his father—if the lineage is direct.
Julia Schlaepfer, who plays Alex, commented on the speculation:
“It’s fun to think about and how it ties into the whole world. But the only person who could confirm it is Taylor Sheridan himself.”
Brandon Sklenar, who portrays Spencer, also noted,
“John’s a popular name.”
This brings us to another potential connection.
Elizabeth Dutton’s Pregnancy Adds More Mystery
Elizabeth Dutton, another character in 1923, suffers a miscarriage earlier in the season but is revealed to be pregnant again by the finale.
Michelle Randolph, who plays Elizabeth, confirmed her character’s pregnancy:
“Elizabeth walks away pregnant. We assume she’s going back to Boston, but we don’t know for sure.” She added,
“I had to create my own storyline without getting too attached.”
Elizabeth’s husband, Jack Dutton, is murdered just before the finale. Jack is the son of John Dutton I, who is Spencer’s brother.
The baby Elizabeth is carrying hasn’t been born yet, so it’s unclear what name she will choose. Since Jack’s father is named John, it’s possible this child could also be named John, adding another potential John Dutton to the family tree.
