It turns out that Tom Hanks isn’t the only member of his family who will guest star on the Yellowstone spinoff, 1883. Hanks made a brief cameo in one of the first episodes of the season and now his wife is going to make an appearance as well. However, it appears that Rita Wilson might actually get a little more screen time than her famous husband.
The actress will join the star-studded cast in the freshman season of the new series as a whiskey-slinging shopkeeper in Doan’s Crossing named Carolyn. It’s said that Carolyn will pour Margaret (Faith Hill) a tall glass of the good stuff to help her take the edge off. Keeping it all in the family, Wilson’s cameo performance will follow that of her husband, Tom Hanks, who played the role of U.S. Civil War General George Mead in 1883’s second episode.
Rita Wilson The Latest Big Name To Appear In 1883
While the show is very, very new, series creator Taylor Sheridan has found a way to load up the cast with household names. Some of them, such as Hill, Tim McGraw and Sam Neill are all stars of the show and appear in every episode.
Others, like Rita Wilson, Tom Hanks, and Billy Bob Thornton are fun throw-ins and easter eggs.
The Yellowstone spinoff actually has that as a bit of a one-up on the show that allowed it to exist. While the first show introduced the world to the Dutton ranch, the series that’s set in the present really hasn’t been loaded up with big-name guest stars.
Of course, Yellowstone has a movie star in Kevin Costner as its headliner. Kelly Reilly (Beth Dutton), Cole Hauser (Rip) and Wes Bentley (Jamie Dutton) all have extensive resumes in Hollywood.
So really, Sheridan is substituting actors like Rita Wilson and Tom Hanks in cameos in 1883, for the big-name regulars he has in Yellowstone.
Doesn’t Really Need The Boost
While these kinds of appearances can help give a new program a big ratings boost, the newest addition to the Paramount+ streaming service hasn’t needed a ton of help. The fact that fans are big fans of its parent show has been enough of a boost.
Sheridan’s latest project had a very successful launch. In fact, Paramount said it was the best debut of any original series on the platform. Those ratings have continued to be strong as the season has gone along.
But with such big names already making appearances, one has to wonder what else might be up Sheridan’s sleeve. Is there going to be a big star in every episode? Will fans need to keep their eyes peeled? There certainly seems to be a pattern forming.
For now, 1883 fans will have to just be excited by the addition of Rita Wilson to the Yellowstone spinoff.
