Tim McGraw Interview: 1883
1883 star Tim McGraw chats about playing a Dutton ancestor and passing down family traits in Paramount+’s new Yellowstone prequel.
You Are Reading :Tim McGraw Interview 1883
1883, the new prequel series to the hit show Yellowstone, will be have its grand premiere on Paramount+ December 19. The highly anticipated tale reveals how the Duttons established their family’s ranch in Montana, and the lengths they must go to in order to protect each other on the journey there. Much like Yellowstone explores the personal and political conflicts surrounding the land, 1883 will follow that classic Western approach with the added layer of the fallout from the Civil War that ended barely two decades before.
The head of this generation of Duttons is rancher James (Country music superstar Tim McGraw, The Blind Side), whose dreams of a better future for his family are what set them on the dangerous trail in the first place. His wife Margaret (Faith Hill, The Stepford Wives) and daughter Elsa (Isabel May, Alexa & Katie) are no damsels in distress, however, and can fend for themselves when the situation calls for it.
McGraw spoke to Screen Rant about how he prepared for the role, the complicated family dynamics on the road, and makes Taylor Sheridan’s work resonate with so many viewers.
What was your experience with the Duttons prior to taking on this role, and did you look to any of the characters in Yellowstone inspiration on what James is like?
Tim McGraw: Yeah, I’m a huge Yellowstone fan. I mean, Faith and I have been fans of Yellowstone since the premiere of the very first night of the very first episode. We were hooked on it; we started watching it, and we’ve never missed a night of watching. Although tonight, we’ve got to hurry up and get back for the episode.
We were just huge fans, so when I knew this was coming along, I did study John a little – a little more every time. I do study Kevin Costner’s character a little more when I’m watching now, and I looked at it in a different light as long as I’ve known that I’d be doing this part. But I also knew that James Dutton’s genes were what led to John and Kayce and Beth.
I think the cool thing that people will see when they watch this is they’ll see bells go off with Margaret, who Faith plays, and Elsa, my daughter. When they see James, bells will start ringing, and they’ll go, “I can see that. I can see where this comes from.” That was our intention all along. There’s some really strong family traits that pass down through the Dutton generations.
Speaking of Elsa, in a time when roles for women are much more restrictive, James is surprisingly free with her and lets her be who she wants. Can you talk about that dynamic?
Tim McGraw: Yeah. I mean, I’m a dad of three daughters, so I don’t have much say so anyway. I’m pretty used to just saying, “Okay, whatever you want to do.”
But I think that was one of the beautiful things about the script and the way it was written. In this time period, she represents… You have the wagon train, you have the move forward, the move westward and north, the dangers and all the perils that are involved. I think, in an esoteric way, she represents the freedom that everyone was looking for. Her journey and the coming-of-age story about her all represent this wagon train, in a way. I think she’s the esoteric heart of why this whole thing happens.
Westerns have always been a staple of American cinema, but something about Taylor Sheridan’s work seems to resonate with so many people. What is it about his work that you like best?
Tim McGraw: His writing. He’s one of the most brilliant writers I’ve ever read. When I read the script, it was literally one of the best things I’ve ever read – [one of the best] books, scripts, songs I’ve listened to, or poems I’ve read. It’s literally one of the best things I’ve ever read.
And Elsa’s narration throughout the show is just pure poetry. How a man can sit down and write that poetry from an 18-year-old girl’s perspective is just mind boggling to me.
Link Source : https://screenrant.com/yellowstone-1883-show-tim-mcgraw-interview/