Cole Hauser says Dutton Ranch changed without Taylor Sheridan
Cole Hauser said filming Dutton Ranch without Taylor Sheridan brought challenges as the Yellowstone spinoff reset its creative team.
By Bianca Rossi · Entertainment Editor
3 min read
Cole Hauser says Dutton Ranch came with a very different feel behind the scenes as the Yellowstone spinoff moved ahead without Taylor Sheridan running the day-to-day creative charge.
Hauser, who returns as Rip Wheeler, discussed the Paramount+ series in an interview with Film Inside NYC, saying the shift brought real challenges for the cast as they worked with new writers and directors.
According to Hauser, the familiar faces on set were limited. He pointed to himself, returning Yellowstone co-stars Finn Little and Kelly Reilly, and director Christina Alexandra Voros as the main constants during production.
The comments arrive after a major behind-the-scenes change for the western drama. Chad Feehan, who created Dutton Ranch and served as executive producer and director, left after completing the first season, Deadline reported.
What did Cole Hauser say about Dutton Ranch?
Hauser told Film Inside NYC that the cast had to adjust to working without Sheridan present and with a new group of creative voices. He described the experience as difficult, but also said he likes a challenge and was proud of what the team managed to make.
He said the work required the cast to focus on the material and figure out how to tell the story with the writers around them. Hauser added that the process brought the cast closer together during production.
Dutton Ranch continues the world of Yellowstone, the hit western franchise created by Sheridan. The spinoff keeps Hauser’s Rip Wheeler in the picture, alongside Reilly and Little, tying the new series directly to the parent show’s surviving core.
A spinoff is a new series built from an existing show’s characters, setting or story world. In this case, Dutton Ranch extends the Yellowstone universe while shifting some of the creative leadership behind the camera.
Who is running Dutton Ranch season 2?
Benjamin Cavell, creator of SEAL Team, was named showrunner for Season 2 of Dutton Ranch last month, Deadline reported. A showrunner is the lead producer in charge of the writing room and the overall execution of a scripted television series.
Feehan’s exit followed the completion of Season 1. Deadline reported, citing sources, that Feehan delivered as a writer but had difficulty handling the show’s high-profile cast, which the outlet described as a key part of the showrunner job.
Hauser did not frame the transition as a dealbreaker. In the Film Inside NYC interview, he said he was looking forward to doing the work again after the first season’s demanding production.
The result is a Yellowstone offshoot trying to keep its most recognizable ranch hands in the saddle while rebuilding its leadership behind the scenes. For Hauser, the job became about putting his head down, working with the team in place and pushing the story forward.
This story draws on original reporting from Deadline.