1883: How in the World Did They Convince Tom Hanks to Join Yellowstone?

Yellowstone fans are ecstatic about Tom Hanks joining the cast of 1883. The show continues to attract the industry's biggest names. With the hit show now a franchise, there's even more potential to bring in major star power.

What is 1883 All About?

1883 will follow the Dutton family from Texas to Montana during their 19th-century journey. The series' leads are Tim McGraw and Faith Hill, who play the Dutton patriarch, James, and matriarch, Margaret. They are joined by their children, played by Audie Rick and Isabel May, the latter of whom narrates the series.

Shea Brennan, a hardened Civil War veteran played by Sam Elliott, is in charge of their expedition. Elliott has already appeared in Buffalo Girls and Tombstone, so 1883 isn't his first rodeo in the Western genre.

Tom Hanks will play a Union General in 1883, according to Deadline. A flashback scene from the gruesome 1862 Battle of Antietam, the bloodiest day in American history, will be shown in the second episode. Hanks, a three-star Union General, shows sympathy for battle-weary Confederate soldier James Dutton as he surveys the carnage. General George Meade, the army general who defeated Robert E. Lee at the Battle of Gettysburg, is said to be the inspiration for Hanks' character.

1883’s Star Power: Why/How is Hanks in Yellowstone?

Yellowstone is, without a doubt, the most popular show on television right now, so this is an easy answer. Seasons 3 and 4 have both smashed cable viewership records and dominated pop culture. Taylor Sheridan, the show's creator, is also one of Hollywood's biggest names right now. So, we imagine securing Tom Hanks was a breeze.

And one Redditor claims, per Outsider, that: “Tom Hanks and his wife, Rita are very good friends with Faith and Tim. That might have something to do with it.”

Hanks' addition to the upcoming series is noteworthy, especially given the actor's limited television appearances, which normally consist of quick cameos or voiceovers. The fact that 1883 was able to secure the actor just adds to Yellowstone's triumph.

The show's success has prompted Paramount Network to give Sheridan the funding and resources he needs to attract high-profile talent and extend the universe of his ongoing series. Hanks, on the other hand, may have leaped at the chance to star in a Western.

A special simulcast of 1883 will air alongside a new episode of Yellowstone come Dec. 19.