The Yellowstone's central Dutton family and their migration out West after the Civil War to eventually become the largest landowners in Montana. Ratings expectations were certainly high given how Yellowstone quickly became one of the most-watched dramas on television, but 1883's December 19 premiere smashed records to become the biggest cable series premiere in six years. The new series has commanded steady viewership over its first three episodes, thanks to a strong cast and interesting gallery of guest stars, including Dawn Olivieri from Heroes and, shockingly, the peerless Tom Hanks.
Keeping it in the family as only Yellowstone can, Variety reports that Hanks' wife Rita Wilson will guest star in an episode of 1883. Wilson is set to play a whiskey-pouring shopkeeper named Carolyn who strikes up a kinship with Margaret Dutton, played by Faith Hill. It's currently unclear whether or not Wilson's Carolyn will have a multi-episode arc or simply have a cameo like Hanks did in episode 2.
Over the course of her more than 40-year career, Wilson scored lead roles in Sleepless in Seattle, Jingle All the Way, and countless other lighthearted classics. Her guest role on 1883 aligns with her recent emphasis on TV work, which has included recurring roles in Girls, Pitch, and The Good Wife. If the Yellowstone prequel mimics the momentum its parent series has maintained over four seasons, more high-profile actors will undeniably be drawn to 1883's authentic Western aesthetic that's defined some of the greatest TV shows ever.
Source: Variety