Taylor Sheridan's Yellowstone legacy continues to grow with its spinoffs, and Dutton Ranch season 2 is about to get even better. Thus far, the Yellowstone franchise contains two Dutton family prequels, 1883 and 1923; two sequel series, Dutton Ranch and Marshals; and more in the works at various stages of development.
Premiering on Paramount+ in May 2026, Dutton Ranch centers on Beth Dutton (Kelly Reilly) and Rip Wheeler (Cole Hauser), as the Yellowstone couple leaves Montana behind to start their titular ranch in Rio Paloma, Texas. Unlike Yellowstone, Beth and Rip are the scrappy underdogs in Dutton Ranch, forced to contend with devastating setbacks, their troubled adopted teenage son, and a formidable competitor whose dark secrets threaten everything the pair holds dear.
Though reviews for Dutton Ranch were largely positive, and the show's inaugural season sits at 89% on Rotten Tomatoes, critics and audiences alike found something to be missing from the Yellowstone spinoff. As entertaining as it is, Dutton Ranch season 1 lacks the intensity and gravitas of its game-changing neo-Western predecessor, and a big reason for that is likely because Sheridan wasn't in the writers' room.
As a whole, Sheridan took a largely hands-off approach to Dutton Ranch, serving only as executive producer, with Chad Feehan as showrunner. However, amidst clashes with Sheridan, Reilly, and Hauser, Feehan departed the position before the Dutton Ranch premiere and has been replaced by Benjamin Cavell. Not only that, but Reilly confirmed to THR that Sheridan is set to be involved in the creative process for Dutton Ranch season 2. Given that Sheridan's vision was so integral in Yellowstone becoming such a hit, this is only a good thing for the Beth and Rip spinoff.
Beth & Rip Will Feel More Like Themselves With Sheridan's Dutton Ranch Season 2 Involvement
At the start of Dutton Ranch season 1, Beth and Rip were considerably more subdued versions of the Yellowstone characters we had come to know and love. To a degree, this makes sense, as their loyalty to John Dutton (Kevin Costner) — and the dangers that go along with it — was such a core part of their identity. With him gone, they could find some peace.
However, this isn't what fans tuned into a Beth and Rip spinoff to see. We wanted fiery Beth and her eviscerating one-liners; we wanted badass Rip, the violent enforcer. Even as things heated up in the lead-up to the Dutton Ranch season 1 finale, the show still didn't feel as intense as Yellowstone.
Both Kelly Reilly and Rip actor Cole Hauser pointed to the difficulties of not acting off a Sheridan script, with Reilly telling THR, "I was very uncertain of what this would be without his words. I didn’t know if it was gonna work," and Hauser confessing to EW that "It certainly was a challenge." The actors clearly have a deep creative bond with Sheridan, so his involvement sets up Dutton Ranch season 2 to be a more harmonious, fulfilling filming experience that ought to pay off in the finished product.
Dutton Ranch Season 2 Is Fixing Season 1's Behind-The-Scenes Problems
In addition to Sheridan's absence, Reilly and Hauser also struggled with Feehan's vision for Dutton Ranch. Though the actors' public comments have remained professional, and they've expressed pride in what everyone accomplished with season 1, it's obvious they think there's room for improvement, with Reilly telling THR, "I feel excited about a season two because I want it to be better. I want it to be great."
Dutton Ranch cast member Ed Harris, who plays kindhearted vet Everett McKinney in the series, has also spoken out about his problems with season 1. Harris was unhappy filming Dutton Ranch, saying he "felt underused and inconsequential," and that the writers didn't really take his comments to heart. He's contractually obligated to return for season 2, where he's been told he'll have more to do, and hopefully, Sheridan and new showrunner Cavell will make good on that promise.
It's a good sign that Hauser and Reilly have sung Cavell's praises, with the Rip Wheeler actor saying, "He’s somebody I trust with my life," and Reilly describing Cavell and longtime Yellowstone and Dutton Ranch executive producer and director Cristina Voros as "an A-team." With production on Dutton Ranch season 2 set to commence in early 2027, here's hoping for a more peaceful set and a bloodier show.
