Cole Hauser’s journey into the Yellowstone universe could have turned out very differently.
It’s almost impossible to picture anyone other than Cole Hauser as Rip Wheeler. Since Yellowstone premiered in 2018, Hauser has made the character one of the most recognizable and beloved figures in the series.
Now, he’s also leading his own spinoff series, Dutton Ranch, which has quickly become a major hit.
But many fans may be surprised to learn that Hauser wasn’t originally being considered for the role of Rip.
In an interview with The Hollywood Reporter, Hauser revealed that when he was first approached about Yellowstone by producer John Linson, he was actually being considered for the role of one of John Dutton’s children.
“[Linson] came to me initially [with ‘Yellowstone’] and said, ‘Take a look at these different roles and tell me what you think.’ In the beginning it was to play one of the children of John Dutton,” Hauser explained.
After reading the pilot script, however, Hauser immediately became interested in another character.
“I read the pilot and I thought, well this guy [Rip] only has a couple of scenes, but I love the character. I got on the phone with Taylor. We spoke for two hours, and that was kind of it.”
That conversation with creator Taylor Sheridan ultimately changed everything.
Looking back, it’s hard to imagine the Yellowstone story without Hauser as Rip.
Had he taken the role of Lee Dutton instead, his time on the series would have been extremely brief. Lee was killed in the very first episode, making the role a short-lived one.
Another possibility could have been Kayce Dutton, who eventually became one of the show’s central characters and went on to appear in another Yellowstone spinoff, Marshals. Still, most fans would likely agree that Luke Grimes made the role his own.
What We Know About Dutton Ranch Season 2 So Far
The first season of Dutton Ranch came to an end this summer, with the season finale airing on July 3.
So far, details about the second season remain limited, especially after the series left viewers with a major cliffhanger.
An official release date for Season 2 has not yet been announced, although production is expected to begin in early 2027.
The upcoming season will also bring a change behind the scenes. Dutton Ranch will have a new showrunner, Benjamin Cavell.
Hauser has already spoken positively about Cavell, describing him as “wonderful” and saying that he’s excited to see what the new showrunner brings to the series.
There has also been speculation that Ed Harris, who plays Everett McKinney, could have a larger role in the upcoming season.
For now, fans will have to wait for more details about what comes next. But with Hauser returning as Rip and plenty of unanswered questions following Season 1, anticipation for Dutton Ranch Season 2 is already building.