1883 star Tim McGraw explains how he got Tom Hanks to show up for a cameo. Premiering in December 2021, 1883 is a prequel to Yellowstone. The series focuses on the origin story of the Dutton family. And, in particular, it chronicles the family’s 19th-century ancestors James (McGraw) and Margaret Dutton (Faith Hill). The duo embarks on a journey through the Great Plains in hopes of reaching what is deemed as the last bastion of untamed America. The prequel’s cast also includes Sam Elliott, Billy Bob Thornton, Isabel May, LaMonica Garrett, Audie Rick, Marc Rissmann, Eric Nelsen, and James Landry Hébert.
1883, created by Taylor Sheridan, got a big shot in the arm when it was announced that Tom Hanks would make a guest appearance in the second episode of the prequel. And when the episode arrived, fans didn’t have to wait long to see the beloved star of Forrest Gump. In a flashback to the Civil War, Hanks portrayed a uniformed general by the name of George Meade. In the largely dialogue-free opening scene, set at the aftermath of the Battle of Antietam in 1862, an exhausted James Dutton looks lost amidst the carnage and death all around him. And then, the camera lingers for a moment, before revealing Hanks’ character and allowing the two characters to share a moment of compassion.
In an interview with Cinemablend, McGraw opened up about what it was like to act alongside the Hollywood legend. He also shed light on how he got Hanks to cameo in 1883, explaining that it came down to the long friendship the two have. McGraw’s quote is included below.
“You never want to botch a scene when you got Tom Hanks in there with you. But yeah, he’s a great guy. We’ve been friends for a long time. Rita, his wife, and Faith are best friends, and Tom and I’ve been friends for 25 years, 24 years. I knew that there was this part in there, and I gave him a call said, ‘Hey, would you be interested in showing up doing a cameo in this show that we’re doing?’ And he goes, ‘Tell me when to be there,’ and he just showed up.”
Hanks’ cameo is noteworthy. Because, despite how huge actors have turned to television and delivered excellent performances, with Nicole Kidman being a lead example, Hanks has largely kept his on-screen work narrowed to the big screen. Though he’ll grab headlines with his hosting duties on Saturday Night Live, and he’ll cameo as himself on occasion, it’s rare for the Oscar winner to play a character in a television project. In fact, in an era where many believe the distinctions between film and television to be increasingly eroded, Hanks is one of the few to keep his attention trained to movies. Most recently, he’s starred in News of the World and Finch.
1883 has been a big hit so far. The drama set a new record for the most-watched original series premiere on Paramount+. And, in its linear broadcast, the prequel drew 4.9 million total viewers – making it cable’s biggest new series since 2015. The addition of Hanks, however brief, keeps viewers talking about the show as it attempts to establish itself and solidify the Yellowstone brand more broadly. And all it took, really, was a phone call from a friend.
