Is Lawmen: Bass Reeves Connected to Yellowstone or 1883?

Yellowstone creator Taylor Sheridan is working his magic once again with the upcoming series Lawmen: Bass Reeves. The series is set to follow the real-life story of the first black U.S. Deputy Marshal west of the Mississippi River, Bass Reeves.

Some fans have wondered if Lawmen: Bass Reeves is connected to Yellowstone or 1883, and if there will be any Duttons.

In this guide, we will explore the evidence for and against a connection between Lawmen: Bass Reeves, Yellowstone, and 1883.

Is Lawmen: Bass Reeves Connected to Yellowstone or 1883?

There is no official confirmation that Lawmen: Bass Reeves is connected to Yellowstone or 1883 While it is set in the same time period as 1883, it does not have any direct connection to the Dutton family or the Yellowstone Dutton Ranch. Lawmen: Bass Reeves is its own independent story that will introduce a whole new set of characters.

Previously titled 1883: The Bass Reeves Story, Lawmen: Bass Reeves is described as a spin-off of 1883 and Yellowstone, taking place in the same universe. However, there is no indication as to whether any Duttons will make guest appearances in the series.

With the name change to the series, many sources speculate if whatever ties the series had to 1883 have been cut out of the story, if there were any to begin with.

Since it takes place over 100 years before the events of Yellowstone, there will likely be no connection between the shows unless any ancestors of the Duttons appear in the series.

Though it is part of the Yellowstone franchise, it appears it will only be loosely connected, perhaps with the only connection being Taylor Sheridan

What is Lawmen: Bass Reeves About?

Lawmen: Bass Reeves will tell the story of legendary lawman Bass Reeves. Reeves was the first black U.S. Deputy Marshal west of the Mississippi, serving as a federal peace officer in the Indian Territory.

He spoke multiple Native American languages and arrested over 3,000 criminals during his career while never receiving a serious injury.

The series begins with Reeves’ life as an enslaved man where his owner George Reeves forces him to fight for the Confederacy. Reeves is able to escape from his master, fleeing to safety in Indian Territory.

After escaping, Reeves is given shelter by the Seminole. While there, he learns their language while also becoming an expert shooter, hunter, and tracker.

Upon the legalization of his freedom with the Emancipation Proclamation, Reeves moves to Arkansas where he begins a family on his newly acquired farm. However, US deputy marshal Sherrill Lynn recruits him a decade later to join his posse.

Reeves then begins a new career working as a U.S. Deputy Marshal, becoming one of the most iconic lawmen in all of the West.

Is Lawmen: Bass Reeves the Second Season of 1883?

Lawmen: Bass Reeves is its own series, not the second season of 1883. Taylor Sheridan created 1883 to be a limited series, with the storyline ending with season one.

In February 2022, Paramount+ ordered additional episodes of 1883. However, after Sheridan declared the story finished, the prequel series 1923 took the spot of a second season of 1883. Though for a while it seemed that Lawmen: Bass Reeves would serve as a second season of 1883, that is not the case anymore.

Lawmen: Bass Reeves is set during the same time period as 1883. It remains unclear how the series will fit into the “Sheridan-Verse.”

When Does Lawmen: Bass Reeves Come Out?

While an exact date is yet to be released, it is confirmed that Lawmen: Bass Reeves will premiere in the fall of 2023. The series will stream exclusively on the streaming service Paramount+.

Lawmen: Bass Reeves will consist of eight episodes. The series is set to star David Oyelowo as Reeves, alongside Dennis Quaid, Forest Goodluck, Lauren E. Banks, Barry Pepper, Shea Whigham, and Donald Sutherland.