Dutton Ranch Is Repeating Yellowstone’s Biggest Mistake

It was recently revealed that one of the biggest stars on Dutton Ranch is unhappy with the show, which is worryingly reminiscent of behind-the-scenes tension towards the end of Yellowstone's run. The Dutton Ranch cast is led by Kelly Reilly and Cole Hauser, who reprise their respective Yellowstone characters, Beth Dutton and Rip Wheeler. Oscar-nominated actors Annette Bening and Ed Harris also star. While Bening's Beulah Jackson is the formidable and ruthless matriarch of the 10 Petal Ranch, Harris's kindly veterinarian, Everett McKinney, does his best to steer clear of feuds and criminal activity, even if he did play a pivotal role in defending Dutton Ranch in the season 1 finale. However, Everett's season 1 storyline — or lack thereof — didn't sit right with Harris. In a Variety exclusive, Harris confessed that he was unhappy with Dutton Ranch's filming. The actor said that he felt "misled" about his role in the show, saying, "Prior to signing on for it, I was talked to quite a bit about what the season was, and what my character was going to do — and that I was one of the four main characters. And that wasn’t really the case." Throughout production on season 1, Harris said he felt "underused and inconsequential," even telling his team to "get me the f**k out of here." Though he's been told that he'll have more to do in Dutton Ranch season 2, it may not be enough to placate the Everett McKinney actor. This isn't the first time a veteran actor has been rubbed the wrong way in the Yellowstone universe. Despite playing the show's main character, Kevin Costner famously left Yellowstone before its fifth and final season ended due to several factors, including creative differences with Taylor Sheridan. Yellowstone was never the same after John Dutton's death, which is something Dutton Ranch writers may wish to keep in mind when developing Harris' season 2 storyline. Dutton Ranch Season 2 Needs To Figure Out What To Do With Ed Harris' Character As frustrated as Harris was filming Dutton Ranch season 1, he'll still be back for the sophomore installment, as he signed a two-season contract. He revealed in the interview that filming for Dutton Ranch season 2 begins in February, providing the writers with a golden opportunity to make good on the promise that Harris will be more substantial to the story. There's a silver lining here, and it's that when Harris watched the show, he was pleased with the finished product and that his character was more relevant to the story than it seemed during production. This makes sense, as Everett has some of the most poetic, poignant dialogue of the season, with Harris often stealing the scene. However, the character essentially only serves as a supporting figure in other main characters' storylines, whether it's Beulah's complicated love interest or Beth and Rip's stalwart ally. Dutton Ranch season 2 is also switching showrunners, with Benjamin Cavell filling the role after series creator Chad Feehan was let go. Reportedly clashing with Feehan during season 1, Reilly and Hauser have expressed excitement at Cavell's involvement, which will hopefully result in a positive experience for Harris as well. Harris also shared that in an early Dutton Ranch episode, he filmed a scene in which Everett sang at a local bar, which was cut because the creatives didn't want the episode to end on too much of a light note. It was enough for Harris to say "F**k you people," and seriously consider voiding his contract. This is a clear message to Dutton Ranch: if you want Harris to stick around past season 2, let the man sing. - Release Date - May 15, 2026 - Network - Paramount Network, Paramount+ - Showrunner - Chad Feehan - Directors - Christina Alexandra Voros - Writers - Jacob Forman, Hilary Bettis, Chad Feehan, Hayley Tibbenham, J. Todd Scott, K.C. Scott - Creator(s) - Chad Feehan