I am not making this up. Last week I had one too many whiskey drinks during a late-season duck hunt and rolled into Anaconda just before dark. My camo was already wet from the swamp. I was craving a steak. So I plopped myself down in one of the town’s most popular steakhouses. That is where it happened.

Taylor Sheridan was sitting two tables away. The director of Yellowstone himself. In Montana. The night before the Golden Globes took place in Beverly Hills. All I could think about was, “Hmm, I wonder what he is up to?”

Was he there for the steaks? Maybe. (They were friggin amazing) Was he there for a duck hunt like the rest of us? Maybe not. But at the same time, when you consider that less than 24 hours later we were watching the Golden Globes premiere spinoff trailers for the new  Rip and Beth spinoff, and the Casey Dutton “Marshals” spinoff, it got me thinking. Can it be safe to assume Taylor was there to start filming the Yellowstone prequel “1944?”

Montana, Golden Globes and Yellowstone Spin

If you were tracking the Golden Globes coverage over the weekend, then you saw the buzz about the expanded Yellowstone universe hitting epic proportions. Trailers for new spin-offs dropped. Fans are freaking out about Rip, Beth and Casey Dutton. And among all that uproar is the buzz about 1944, the prequel that takes us way back into the beginnings of the Dutton empire.

Now add to that hype a sighting of the show’s creator in Montana as all of this was happening. You start to connect dots.

Could 1944 Already Be Here

Let’s be honest. A green light on a film production doesn’t always signal its presence months in advance. They tiptoe in, scout, talk to locals, grab dinner, perhaps even sneak into a duck blind. I did actually see Sheridan, near Butte, MT. That’s a lot of evidence to ignore.

Rumors have swirled that filming for the “1944” prequel will take place in late 2025/early 2026. Last time I checked the calendar, they would be right on time.

Keep Your Eyes Peeled Montana

So here is the fun part. I’m not saying this is gospel. I didn’t even get the chance to ask for a picture or an autograph. I’m not a leaker of set locations or casting calls. I’m only telling you what I’ve seen. And if you are living around Anaconda, Butte, Helena or anywhere in western Montana, keep an eye out.