Cole Hauser says Montana roots helped shape his connection to Rip Wheeler
The "Dutton Ranch" star reflects on his family’s deep ties to Montana as the Paramount+ series premieres May 15 with two episodes, followed by weekly releases.
Ed Harris says he came close to walking away from Taylor Sheridan's "Dutton Ranch."
The veteran actor revealed he felt "underused and inconsequential" while filming the show's first season, prompting him to tell his team to "get me the f--- out of here" before production wrapped.
"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," Harris told Variety. "And that wasn't really the case."
Ed Harris says he nearly quit Taylor Sheridan's "Dutton Ranch." (Emerson Miller/Paramount+.)
The Oscar-nominated actor, who plays veterinarian Everett McKinney in the "Yellowstone" spin-off, said he felt "misled" about the importance of his character after allegedly being promised a much larger role before production began.
By the middle of filming, Harris said he'd reached his breaking point.
Harris said he confronted the production about his concerns, though he did not identify Sheridan by name.
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Harris is seen wih Kelly Reilly as Beth Dutton in "Dutton Ranch." (Emerson Miller/Paramount+)
"I said, 'I'm feeling underused and inconsequential,' and they kind of went, 'Oh,'" Harris said. "I'm being told my character will have a little bit more to do [in Season 2]. I was just a little frustrated, to tell you the truth."
Looking back after watching the finished season, Harris admitted his perspective changed.
He called "Dutton Ranch" "pretty good" and said Everett ended up feeling "relatively important to the story." Still, he said that wasn't how it felt while cameras were rolling.
A cut musical scene left Harris fuming at "Dutton Ranch" producers, saying it was "enough reason" to void his contract with the show. (Emerson Miller/Paramount+)
Harris said he filmed a sequence in which Everett is invited to sing in a bar — only to discover it had been axed from production.
"So, there's this scene in there … I'm talking to [Beth Dutton] at the bar, and [Rip Wheeler] comes in and says, 'OK, Everett, come on, it's your turn,'" Harris said. "I walk up to the mic, and they cut it… They cut the song out. I'm going, 'F--- you, people.'"
According to Harris, producers told him the musical moment was removed because it was "too 'up' for the dark ending of that episode."
Harris said he felt that was "enough reason to say I'm voiding my contract."
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Despite his blunt remarks, Harris remains signed on for two seasons of "Dutton Ranch," and it remains unclear whether he is seriously considering leaving the series.
Harris revealed he felt "underused" filming "Dutton Ranch" and nearly voided his contract on the Taylor Sheridan "Yellowstone" spinoff. (Omar Vega/Getty Images)
Sheridan's latest chapter in the "Yellowstone" universe debuted on Paramount+ in May.
The series picks up with fan favorites Beth Dutton (Kelly Reilly) and Rip Wheeler (Cole Hauser) as they trade Montana for South Texas, where they're determined to build a ranch — and a new life — from the ground up.
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Joining Reilly and Hauser is an ensemble cast that includes Harris, Annette Bening, Finn Little, Juan Pablo Raba, Jai Courtney, J.R. Villarreal, Marc Menchaca and Natalie Alyn Lind.
Fox News Digital reached out to Paramount, Sheridan and Harris for comment.
