If one was wondering why there was so much traffic downtown these past couple of weeks, it is not only because of the never-ending construction sites but because of the filming of none other than Yellowstone’s prequel, “1923,” starring Harrison Ford and Helen Mirren.
The spinoff follows the story of the Duttons, a family that faces a series of hardships at the dawn of the 20th century, including the beginning of the Great Depression, Prohibition and drought, among other challenges as the show continues its course. It is the second prequel of the show “Yellowstone,” with “1883” being the first prequel made about an earlier generation of the Dutton family, who lived through the western expansion by moving from Tennessee to Oregon, facing hardships along the way.
The filming of “1923’s” second season started on Sept. 9, transforming San Antonio’s Downtown into a snapshot of what it could have looked like during the 1920s. With vintage cars and brave extras facing the Texas heat in period costumes, most businesses closed down during filming, as some were briefly rebranded to resemble historic diners and shops. Only a few businesses kept their current displays and opened their doors to the general public.
Filming started on Sept. 19, closing down Broadway, Pecan Street, Houston Street, Travis Street, Peacock Alley, Alamo and Jefferson Streets. The production team had been scouting locations since January, in which filming has been happening in other Texas cities, such as Austin, Lockhart and Amarillo, but the historic preservation of the buildings in San Antonio was the main reason that production chose the city to film this past month.
Krystal Jones, the executive director of San Antonio’s Arts and Culture, told MySA that production was not only beneficial for the surrounding businesses, but for San Antonio as a whole, as she called it “an economic generator.” She continued by saying that “When a production like this comes to town, they are buying hotel rooms, they have catering. After they say cut, they’re going out to restaurants. They’re going out to entertainment spots”. Jones stated that it was a “big win for San Antonio.”
Production wrapped this past Friday, Sept. 27, changing the antiquated sights to the present-day ones, reopening businesses as people now continue their everyday lives in the newly-opened streets of downtown.
The first season of the series is now streaming exclusively on Paramount+. The recently filmed second season is set to be released in 2025, with no definite release date. It will be the final season of the show as it is considered “one piece” by “1923’s” actor, Brandon Sklenar. He told The Hollywood Reporter in 2023 that the first and second season are meant to be one whole story, saying,“No, no, it’s bookend. It’s still limited, but I think of it as one piece — there’s just a split in the middle, but it’s all one piece. It will conclude.”
San Antonio has proved once again that the city can become a filming site for future filmmakers and large scale productions in the ever-growing industry.
