‘Yellowstone’ Alum Cole Hauser Says It ‘Was a Challenge’ to Work on ‘Dutton Ranch’ Without Taylor Sheridan

The cast and crew of the Yellowstone spinoff, Dutton Ranch, had to adjust to not having Taylor Sheridan involved in the series.

Sheridan, 56, created Yellowstone and served as writer, director, and executive producer on the hit Western drama.

In an interview with Dutton Ranch star Cole Hauser — who plays Rip Wheeler — recently shared by the Instagram account Film Inside, the actor admitted, “there were challenges, not having Taylor there.”

“I enjoy a challenge. It certainly was a challenge. We worked our asses off this year,” Hauser, 51, remarked in the clip, which was posted on Sunday, July 19. “I don’t think a lot of the outside noise or the thought of what’s the weight of the show was really apparent to me at the time. It was about putting my head down and working my ass off with what I had around me.”

Hauser noted that “the only kind of normality” was working with Kelly Reilly (who portrays Beth Dutton) and Finn Little (who plays Carter Green), as well as Yellowstone producer Christina Alexandra Voros, who worked as a director on Dutton Ranch.

“We had to figure out on our feet how to really perform and tell a story,” Hauser added. “So I’m proud of what we accomplished. I look forward to doing it again.”

Earlier this month, Reilly, 48, also reflected on the Oscar-nominated writer’s absence and revealed he will be part of the show’s second season.

“So there was a moment where we were trying to figure out, ‘How do we do this without him?’ That’s what season one of this was, and he’s really proud of us for doing it,” Reilly told The Hollywood Reporter. “We talk to him now about what the next season could be, and he wants to be involved. So that feels like we earned this second season from all the work we’ve done before, and that’s the thing I’m most proud of.”

Season 1 of Dutton Ranch premiered on Paramount+ in May.