The end of “Yellowstone” closed the book on the Dutton family ranch, but Kelly Reilly does not see Beth Dutton as finished. With “Dutton Ranch” set to premiere this week, Reilly and Cole Hauser are framing the new series as a continuation with a reset built into it—not a scramble to restore the old kingdom (read our review here).
Speaking with Mike DeAngelo on an upcoming episode of The Playlist’s Bingeworthy podcast, Reilly said the finality of “Yellowstone” gave the new series room to move Beth and Rip forward rather than repeat the show that made them fan favorites.
“Yeah, I don’t think we are done yet,” Reilly said. “There was something about the ending, the finality of ‘Yellowstone,’ that the journey had come to such a complete and beautiful poetic ending by Taylor, that the new turn, the new beginning, was something about watching Beth and Rip start again. And not in the world of Montana. We’re not trying to get the ranch back.”
That is probably the sharpest distinction for the series going in. “Yellowstone” ended with the sale of the ranch, and “Dutton Ranch” follows Beth and Rip into a new location, a new cast, and a different power structure. Reilly said that the shift lets her play Beth from a slightly older, changed perspective.
“Like when we’re a new cast, new location, everything about it, new iteration era, a touch of maturity by Beth, maybe a little bit,” she continued. “Like I’m aging as she is aging, and the audience is watching, and I get to sort of step into her as a 48-year-old woman as opposed to a 35-year-old woman. And it’s different, and it’s different colors, and I get to just turn a page a little bit, bringing all that stuff that I’d found before and that Taylor had given me before, and now maybe just explore some new colors.”
The series has also arrived with some behind-the-scenes questions. “Dutton Ranch” was created by Chad Feehan, with Taylor Sheridan still executive producing, but reports have already indicated Feehan is not expected to return for a second season. Asked about the creative process during season one, Hauser acknowledged that moving forward without Sheridan as the day-to-day writing engine would present its own challenge.
“Well, I mean, yeah. I mean, Taylor, obviously, you know, he is, you know, one of the great writers, you know, here in America,” Hauser said. “So I think that, you know, having him to be a soundboard and also, you know, to have him be able to kind of help guide not only the story, but the character, you know, is a challenge in its own right, moving on.”
Still, Hauser said Feehan and the writing staff were in close contact throughout production.
“But, you know, Chad Feehan and his staff—we were in constant communication and talking, and I spent weekends on the phone with him and the writers, we didn’t have a lot of time off this year, but, ultimately, I think that we got very close to what we all wanted,” he said. “And, ultimately, the audience will speak, and I cMay 15t for May 15th for people to see Dutton Ranch.”
Hauser was also clear that Sheridan was not absent from the process, even if the series is being positioned as a new chapter for Beth and Rip.
“I mean, he had his hands all over it,” Hauser said. “So, he’s always there if you need him, you know, but I also think he was excited for us to take the journey together, Kelly and I and Christina Voros, who was fantastic. She’s been a part of the show since the beginning of time, and Finn, you know, so there’s just kind of this nucleus that we all came into it with and we all protected each other, talked a lot, we’re there for each other, and that’s all you can ask for.”
The actor said the first season required the returning team to figure out how Beth, Rip, and Carter would function outside the original “Yellowstone” machinery.
“So, I’m proud of what we’ve accomplished this year,” Hauser added. “As I said, it wasn’t easy. There were times when we had to dig deep and really figure out stuff and how they would navigate this world. And, we did the best job we could. So, again, we’ll see what everybody thinks. I’m excited that it’s going to be out in the world soon enough.”
Hauser also clarified that “Dutton Ranch” did not evolve from the long-discussed Matthew McConaughey-linked “Yellowstone” spinoff that circulated for years.
“No. Dutton was a one-off to its own,” Hauser said. “I know what you’re talking about. I’m friends with Matthew, so we had a little dialogue along the way years ago, but it had nothing to do with that. It was just how do we take these two creative beings and Kelly. me, and give us the kind of, I guess, roadmap to continue to create these characters and do something special that’s new and challenging and that’s entertaining ultimately for the audience.”
And yes, Hauser is still attached to his separate McConaughey project, “True Detective,” created by “True Detective” creator Nick Pizzolatto. Hauser said the series is called “Arena” and centers on two brothers coaching Division One college sports.
“We play two brothers,” Hauser said. “It’s about two brothers who coach in college sports, in Division One. Obviously, they coach together at the beginning of the story, and then as time goes on, they separate. I go and head coach somewhere, and he goes and head coaches at another school, and then it’s about how they eventually find each other in the National Championship.”
For now, though, “Dutton Ranch” has the nearer test. Beth and Rip are no longer protecting the old Dutton empire, and the series seems to understand that simply reopening “Yellowstone” under another name would be a mistake. The gamble is whether the franchise can give its most beloved couple a new fight without pretending the last one never ended.
“Dutton RancMay 15mieres May 15 on Paramount+ and Paramount Network.
