Ford, Mirren Cowboy up for ‘Yellowstone’ Prequel With Younger Cast-Mates

Actor Harrison Ford runs from the wreckage of car while filming a scene from his new movie 'Hollywood Homicide' on Hollywood Boulevard on October 22, 2002 in Los Angeles, California. Prop guns used on movie sets will not be banned by a new gun law in New York, but they will be regulated. (Ben-Ari Finegold/Getty Images)

Besides being behind the camera again, actors Harrison Ford and Helen Mirren are also back in the saddle for their latest roles in the Taylor Sheridan-directed “1923.”

The Western TV series, the second prequel to the popular show “Yellowstone,” follows the Dutton family as it runs the Dutton ranch. It stars Harrison and Mirren as Jacob and Cara Dutton, the family leaders.

But it was co-star Brandon Sklenar who, on Sunday, told Fox News Digital about his experience with the veteran actors training for his role as Spencer Dutton, the nephew of Harrison and Mirren’s characters.

On Sunday night, while Mr. Sklenar was walking the Golden Globes red carpet, he told Fox News Digital about his time with the two Hollywood heavyweights training for their roles. He said that while he hasn’t had a chance to film scenes with them yet, he’s looking forward to the occasion. Mr. Sklenar will appear in the series’ last eight episodes.

Cast-Mates of All Ages Attended Sheridan’s ‘Cowboy Camp’

Ahead of filming, Mr. Sklenar attended what he dubbed “cowboy camp,” which was designed to help the actors prepare for filming. Mr. Sheridan set up the two-week camp for the cast, which many of them found helpful. It consisted of days of horse riding, cattle wrangling, roping, and buggy driving in Montana, where the show is filmed.

“And it was just an incredible way to live and breathe and take in the atmosphere of ranch life and also get to know each other as cast-mates. It just kind of solidified a real natural bond, so that was a big component for me. I read some books and did some research about the time period and what was going on,” Marley Shelton, who plays Emma Dutton, told Fox News Digital.

Actor Darren Mann, who plays Jack Dutton, agreed with his fellow cast-mates that “cowboy camp helped a lot,” but he said it took an unexpected toll on his body.

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“Riding eight hours a day ain’t easy. I think my groin just wanted to walk off and quit the gig, but you know everybody else was handling it, so I had to, too,” Mann quipped. “I went and bought a horse trough after day two, and I filled it with ice and water. And I would invite the cast over to my yard. And we would do ice baths to get ready for our next day.”

Ford and Mirren Set Show’s Tone Through Role Prep

Mr. Sklenar described Ms. Mirren as being “grounded” and “inspiring” during that process, while he said Harrison kind of did his own thing, bringing his own saddle and flying his own helicopter.

While Brandon expressed admiration for Mr. Ford, he said his biggest takeaway from the cowboy experience was demonstrated by Ms. Mirren.

“She’s just so grounded all the time,” he said. “There’s no sense of self where it’s inflated in any way. Just witnessing that has been really inspiring. It’s just the way to do it … staying salty.”

Sheridan’s “1923” series features the family living life in the early 20th century and the challenges of that time period, like the Spanish flu pandemic, the historic drought in America, Prohibition, and the Great Depression. Throughout the show, viewers watch as the family navigates difficult relationships while working to protect their land.

Memorable Filming Locations

For Mr. Sklenar, being part of making the show was a once-in-a-lifetime experience. Besides participating in the “cowboy camp,” the various filming locations were most memorable for him.

“I’ll probably never have an experience like that again,” said Mr. Sklenar. “We were in Africa, in Kenya, in Malta … shot in Salt Lake, shot in Montana, and even if I do a film on that scale again, you just rarely get to go to those locations.”

“Taylor [Sheridan] being who he is … if he writes that’s where you are, then that’s where you go, and he sends you there, and he throws you into the wolves,” he said.