Cole Hauser says first season of Dutton Ranch faced challenges without creator Taylor Sheridan
Actor Cole Hauser said the cast of the Yellowstone spin-off Dutton Ranch had to adjust to new writers and directors after creator Taylor Sheridan stepped back from the writers’ room, describing the experience as a challenge that ultimately strengthened the team.
Cole Hauser, who returns as Rip Wheeler in the Yellowstone spin-off Dutton Ranch, said the series’ first season was difficult for the cast after creator Taylor Sheridan left the writers’ room. "There were challenges, you know? Not having Taylor there, for us to really kind of be able to work with these new writers, these new directors, these people... Everything had changed," Hauser told Film Inside NYC. He added that the only continuity came from a few colleagues, including co-star Finn Little and director Alexandra Voros.
While Sheridan remained an executive producer, day-to-day creative duties shifted to showrunner Chad Feehan and a new writing staff. Hauser described the transition as a “challenge” that required the cast to work hard and adapt on the fly. "I enjoy a challenge, it certainly was a challenge. We worked our a--es off this year... I’m proud of what we accomplished, and I look forward to doing it again," he said.
The comments come amid broader speculation about the series’ direction, following co-star Ed Harris’s remarks that he felt misled about the prominence of his character, Everett McKinney, in season one. Harris said producers have promised a larger role for his character in the upcoming second season, slated to begin filming in February.