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.
It seems as though Ed Harris' concerns surrounding his role in "Dutton Ranch" have been met.
According to Deadline, Harris, who recently shared he didn't have the best experience filming season one of the show, was kept in the loop and was involved in picking the show's new showrunner, Benjamin Cavell, after the show's creator and former showrunner, Chad Feehan, was let go after season one.
The decision to replace Feehan was "largely related" to how Harris' character was "underutilized," Deadline claimed.
The actor recently went viral when he shared he wanted to quit the show halfway through filming the first season, because he felt "underused and inconsequential."
According to sources, Harris is going to be kept in the loop on "Dutton Ranch" from now on. (Eric Charbonneau/Apple TV via Getty Images)
"Midway through this first season, I was ready to go; I said, ‘Get me the f--- out of here,’ to tell you the truth. Because I didn’t feel like I was being used," he told Variety. "I felt a little bit misled."
He continued, "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."
One of the issues he mentioned was finding out a scene they filmed involving his character, veterinarian Everett McKinney, was cut from the show.
"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.'"
Harris claims producers told him the musical number would have been "too 'up' for the dark ending of the episode," adding he felt that was "enough reason to say I'm voiding my contract."
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Harris says he told his team to get him out of "Dutton Ranch." (Emerson Miller/Paramount+)
He added that he took his concerns to production, but didn't mention Taylor Sheridan, the creator, writer and executive producer of "Yellowstone" and its spinoffs.
"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."
In the end, Harris admitted his perspective on his character changed when he watched the show, saying he thought the show was "pretty good," and that his character was still "relatively important to the story," although that wasn't how it felt while filming it.
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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 ultimately returned for season two and it is unclear if he actually considered quitting the show. (Christopher Polk/2026GG/Penske Media via Getty Images)
"Dutton Ranch" premiered on Paramount + in May and serves as a continuation of "Yellowstone" after that show ended in December 2024.
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.
Fox News Digital reached out to Paramount, Harris and Cavell for comment.
