Ed Harris set for Dutton Ranch season 2 after speaking out
The actor said he felt “misled” during Season 1, while Deadline reports his role is being expanded after a showrunner change.
By Georgia Hale · Staff Writer
3 min read
Ed Harris is expected back on Dutton Ranch for Season 2 after openly saying he was ready to leave midway through the Paramount+ drama’s first run.
The Oscar-nominated actor, who plays Everett McKinney on the Yellowstone offshoot, told Variety at the red carpet premiere for his Apple TV movie The Dink that making Season 1 left him frustrated with how his character was handled.
Harris said he believed before signing on that Everett would be one of the show’s four central characters. During production, he said, that was not how it felt.
“Midway through this first season, I was ready to go,” Harris told Variety, adding that he felt “misled” about the part he would play in the season.
The actor said he raised the issue with people involved in the series, telling them he felt “underused and inconsequential.” According to his account, the response did not leave him feeling heard at the time.
Showrunner shake-up followed Season 1 concerns
Deadline reports that Harris’ complaints did have an impact behind the scenes. Citing sources, the outlet reported that the change at the top of Dutton Ranch was tied in large part to concerns over Everett McKinney’s limited use in Season 1.
Chad Feehan, who created the series and served as showrunner for its first season, was let go before the show premiered, according to Deadline. The report did not include a comment from Feehan.
Benjamin Cavell, creator of SWAT Team, was named the new showrunner last month. Deadline reports that Harris was involved in selecting Feehan’s replacement.
The series comes from 101 Studios and Paramount TV Studios. It stars Harris alongside Annette Bening, with Yellowstone veterans Kelly Reilly and Cole Hauser also in the cast.
Everett McKinney is expected to move up
According to Deadline, Season 2 is now being written, with Harris being kept updated on the direction of his character. Everett is expected to have a much larger role in the upcoming season.
Deadline also reports that Harris has already been picked up for Season 2. Production is slated to begin Jan. 15.
Harris confirmed in the Variety interview that he has a two-year deal for Dutton Ranch. Deadline reports that the deal also includes an option for a third year.
One Season 1 cut appears to have bothered Harris in particular. He told Variety that he had been told before joining the show that he would get to sing in a bar scene.
Harris said he filmed a moment in which Everett is called up to the microphone during a scene with Reilly and Hauser, but the song was removed from the episode. He said the explanation he received was that the musical beat felt too upbeat for the episode’s dark ending.
Despite the bad feeling during production, Harris separated that experience from the finished season. He told Variety that he thought the completed season was “pretty good” and felt his performance worked in the story, even if making it did not feel that way.
This story draws on original reporting from Deadline.