![](\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/ca\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/07\/a8d1ecb7bc86f872c62113959c7ada24b5-colehauser.rsquare.w330.jpg\")
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\n The stars of Dutton Ranch.
\n Photo: Emerson Miller\/Paramount+\n <\/p>\n
Taylor Sheridan\u2019s Yellowstone spinoff Dutton Ranch<\/a> may be the biggest ratings success in Paramount+ history<\/a>, but season one seems to have been a bull-size mess behind the scenes. Cole Hauser, who leads the show as Rip Wheeler, gave a recent interview gesturing at the difficulty the cast had making the first season. \u201cThere were challenges not having Taylor there,\u201d Hauser told Film Inside<\/a>, referring to Sheridan not being the showrunner. \u201cFor us to really work with these new writers, these new directors, these people \u2026 Everything had changed.\u201d \u201cI enjoy a challenge,\u201d Hauser continued. \u201cIt certainly was a challenge. We worked our asses off this year.\u201d<\/p>\n The show was high stakes for all involved \u2014 Yellowstone ended abruptly following disagreements between Kevin Costner and Sheridan<\/a>, so Dutton Ranch was expected to pick up the mantle. \u201cI don\u2019t think a lot of the outside noise or the weight of a show was apparent to me at the time,\u201d Hauser said. \u201cIt was about putting my head down and working my ass off with what I had around me. The new writers that we had \u2026 we had to figure out on our feet how to perform and tell a story.\u201d It\u2019s not that Hauser is trashing the show, but his statements do indicate a chaos experience. Why would you have to figure out how to tell a story in real time if the writers were doing their jobs?<\/p>\n Hauser\u2019s comments are especially interesting in light of Ed Harris\u2019s recent complaints<\/a>. The Dutton Ranch supporting player candidly kvetched on a red carpet about how he\u2019d been told he would have a sizable part on the show and then, after his part turned out to be smaller than promised, was all but dismissed when he complained. \u201cMidway through this first season, I was ready to say \u2018Get me the fuck outta here,\u2019\u201d he said.<\/p>\n Notably, it seems Paramount has already taken steps behind the scenes to change up the atmosphere for season two. Chad Feehan, the showrunner for the first season, exited before the series even premiered. Per Deadline<\/a>, \u201cFeehan faced challenges handling the bold-faced cast.\u201d Next season, SEAL Team creator Benjamin Cavell will be showrunner. Hopefully, there will be fewer challenges this time around.<\/p>\n Sign up for the Vulture Daily<\/p>\n An entertainment newsletter for the pop-culture obsessed.<\/p>\n Vox Media, LLC Terms and Privacy Notice<\/p>\n