Ed Harris says Dutton Ranch role left him feeling misled
The actor told Variety he expected a bigger part in the Yellowstone spinoff and felt underused while filming Season 1.
By Georgia Hale · Staff Writer
3 min read
Ed Harris is airing some very direct frustration over his turn on Dutton Ranch, saying he believed he had signed up for a much larger role in the Yellowstone spinoff than the one he ended up playing.
Speaking to Variety at Monday night’s premiere of Apple TV’s The Dink, Harris said he felt “misled” about how central his character would be to the first season. He said he had been told before joining the series that his part would be among the show’s main roles.
According to Harris, the pitch he received before signing on included detailed conversations about the season and what his character would contribute. He told Variety he understood that he would be “one of the four main characters,” then found that the finished experience did not match that expectation.
Harris plays Everett McKinney, described in Variety’s report as a good-humored veterinarian. The actor is signed for two seasons of the Paramount+ drama.
His frustration, he said, built during production. Harris told Variety that midway through shooting Season 1, he was telling his representatives to “get me the fuck out of here.”
Harris said he told people connected to the show that he felt “underused and inconsequential.” He did not name series creator Taylor Sheridan in that part of the interview, Variety reported.
Paramount, Sheridan and 101 Studios did not immediately respond to Variety’s requests for comment.
A better impression after watching
Harris also said his view softened once he saw the finished series. He told Variety he thought Dutton Ranch was “pretty good” and that Everett seemed “relatively important to the story” on screen.
That did not change how the work felt day to day. Harris said that while filming, the part did not feel as significant as he had expected. He added that he has been told Everett may have more to do in Season 2.
Variety reported that Harris appeared ready to leave the show at one point, though it is not clear whether he is currently trying to exit.
A cut bar scene added fuel
One specific edit still seems to sting. Harris recalled shooting a bar scene with Beth Dutton, played by Kelly Reilly, in which Rip Wheeler, played by Cole Hauser, calls Everett up to sing. Harris said the song was removed from the episode.
He told Variety that the cut angered him, and said he was told the scene was considered too upbeat for the episode’s dark ending. Harris said that, in the moment, he felt the decision gave him enough reason to consider voiding his contract.
Dutton Ranch premiered on Paramount+ on May 15. The series follows Beth Dutton and Rip Wheeler after they leave Montana and set out to create a ranch in South Texas.
The cast also includes Finn Little, Juan Pablo Raba, Jai Courtney, J.R. Villarreal, Marc Menchaca, Natalie Alyn Lind and Annette Bening, according to Variety.
This story draws on original reporting from Variety.