We’re a long time into it, so by now, Yellowstone fans are experts at drawing family trees—and they’ve been working overtime since the emotional Season 2 finale of 1923. In the final episode, Alex (Julia Schlaepfer) gives birth to her and Spencer Dutton’s son, John, just before tragically dying in a hospital bed. But even in death, Alex leaves behind one of the biggest lingering questions in Taylor Sheridan’s ever-expanding saga: is this newborn John the father of Kevin Costner’s John Dutton III? Well, both Schlaepfer and co-star Brandon Sklenar, who plays Spencer, have now addressed that theory—and while they don’t confirm anything, they’re certainly intrigued by the possibility.

“It’s fun to think about. That it ties into the whole world,” Schlaepfer told USA Today. “The only person who could confirm that is Taylor Sheridan himself, out of his mouth.” Sklenar, meanwhile, gave a very droll response of: “John’s a popular name.”

The theory holds water. We know from Yellowstone that John Dutton III’s father is named John Dutton II, but 1923 created a complication when John Dutton Sr. (James Badge Dale) died early in the series, leaving behind only one son—Jack Dutton (Darren Mann). Unless Jack later renames a child John in honor of his father, the odds of a direct line from him to Kevin Costner’s character don’t seem as strong.

How Does John Dutton Fit Into ‘1923’?

But then we have Spencer and Alex, whose son was explicitly named John in the finale. Like this felt as if it was neon signs pointing at the baby saying JOHN DUTTON. The timing lines up too. The events of Yellowstone begin nearly a century later, meaning Spencer and Alex’s John could have easily fathered Costner’s John Dutton by the 1950s or ’60s. Naming him after Spencer’s brother also fits perfectly with the Dutton family’s tradition of honoring fallen kin. Are we all keeping track of this with our pieces of string, maps, and scribbled notes?

While neither actor would confirm or deny the theory — and they may not even know — they may not have to wait long. Paramount has already confirmed another prequel, 1944, which is expected to continue the Dutton saga roughly two decades after 1923 during the uneventful time of the Second World War. If Spencer and Alex’s son is still in the picture—and given how symbolic his birth was, it’s hard to imagine he won’t be—he’d be in his early 20s, possibly just starting a family of his own.

We still don’t know if Spencer and Alex’s John Dutton is the John Dutton II. But of all the surviving Duttons in 1923, he’s the most narratively and emotionally satisfying choice. Jack and Elizabeth’s future is uncertain. Spencer and Alex’s son, meanwhile, was born in tragedy but could represent the future—and continuity—of the Dutton name. As Schlaepfer said, only Taylor Sheridan can truly confirm it. But all signs are pointing to yes.

All episodes of 1923 are now streaming on Paramount+.