Even though Harrison Ford is 82 years old with an extensive CV spanning many decades, he continues to find ways to evolve in his career. His 1923 co-star Helen Mirren is one person who believes that, insisting “something magical” has happened to Ford’s acting as time passed.
Speaking with The Wall Street Journal, Mirren praised Ford for his acting range, with 1923 showing more of his emotional side as one of the spinoff’s main protagonists. According to the Oscar winner, Ford “didn’t want” to be a big Hollywood star, but let his talent speak for itself and trusted his “inner feelings” over time.
“He was a huge star and he really didn’t want to be. He wanted to just be a quiet person getting on with life, and of course, that’s kind of impossible,” she said. “Something rather magical has happened to Harrison, especially with his history of, you know, being the dude, the bloke, the fabulous action guy, the funny guy, the cool guy. Now there’s this open road to his inner feelings, which he is absolutely unafraid of expressing. It’s just a true, quick, instinctive emotional reaction to things, without sentimentality.”
Harrison Ford and Helen Mirren Co-Star in 1923
Ford plays Dutton family patriarch Jacob Dutton in 1923, with Mirren portraying his wife and family matriarch, Cara Dutton. Both joined Taylor Sheridan’s acclaimed series before reading its script, something Ford has done with several of his most recent projects, including his Apple TV+ series, Shrinking, and his Marvel Cinematic Universe debut film, Captain America: Brave New World.
Starring alongside Brandon Sklenar (Spencer Dutton), Julia Schlaepfer (Alexandra), Isabel May (Elsa Dutton) and Aminah Nieves (Teonna Rainwater), Ford and Mirren helped 1923 secure more acclaim for the Yellowstone universe. The series is set in the titular year, where the Duttons deal with several hardships, including Prohibition, drought and the early stages of The Great Depression. Season 1 of the series was highly rated (90% on Rotten Tomatoes), with Mirren earning a Golden Globe nomination for her performance, while Ford secured a Satellite Award nod.
1923 Season 2, filmed between July and November last year following delays caused by the SAG-AFTRA strike, promises more drama, as evidenced by the first trailer release in January. Meanwhile, Sklenar teased a “darker” follow-up season that will keep fans at the edge of their seats. Season 2 welcomes several new faces, including Lord of the Rings: The Rings of Power star Augustus Prew, New Amsterdam’s Janet Montgomery and Dexter actor Jennifer Carpenter.
The debut of 1923’s sophomore season comes after the conclusion of the main Yellowstone series last December. Other spinoff shows are planned, including the Michelle Pfeiffer-led series, The Madison, and 1944.
1923 Season 2 premieres via Paramount+ on Feb. 23.