“Dutton Ranch” fans are worried Cole Hauser may be leaving the “Yellowstone” spinoff now that his character Rip Wheeler’s role on the show has changed.
However, Rip’s new role doesn’t mean Hauser is exiting the series.
The Paramount+ cowboy drama is set several years after the events of “Yellowstone,” and follows married couple Rip (Hauser) and Beth (Kelly Reilly) as they leave Montana after the death of her father, John Dutton (Kevin Costner), and set up their own ranch in Texas. There, they are met with problems such as hostile neighbors, cattle disease and mysterious dead bodies.
Earlier in Season 1, Rip and Beth’s new ranch got devastated by foot and mouth disease, forcing them to execute their own cattle herd.
Since Rip and Beth now have a ranch with no cattle – meaning, they have no way to make a living – they’re both temporarily working for their neighboring ranch, the 10 Petal, owned by Beulah Jackson (Annette Bening).
Because of the shift, fans are now agonizing about the possibility of Rip being written off the show.
“Cole can not leave the show,” one comment on Facebook said. “He is the best actor on there. We all love him so much.”
Another fan on Reddit noted, “If this is true, I won’t watch another episode after he leaves.” However, a third fan said that Rip is not “being replaced.”
Paramount+ did not immediately respond to Page Six’s request for comment.
On the show, while Rip is busy running the 10 Petal Ranch, his ranch hands, Zachariach (Marc Menchaca) and Azul ( J.R. Villarreal), have been handling his duties on the home front, at his now cattle-less ranch.
Rip and Beth have discussed that this plan to work for the 10 Petal Ranch is temporary, until they can figure out what to do about their own ranch and bounce back from the blow of losing their herd.
Executive producer Christina Alexandra Voros exclusively told Page Six that she knows that audiences “love vintage Rip and Beth.”
The duo always backs each other up, even if one of them is doing something illegal. For example, in an earlier “Dutton Ranch,” episode, when Rip lit their enemy’s trailer on fire, Beth waited for him in the car, supporting his actions.
Voros added that although Rip and Beth still do antics like that, “It was really interesting to watch both of them enter a slightly more mature era.”
As the season continues, she said, “You really see these two people who have fought so hard to try to finally have peace. And no matter how badly they want it, war keeps coming to their doorstep.”
In the most recent episode, Beulah announced that her volatile addict son, Rob-Will (Jai Courtney), would take over running the 10 Petal. Rob-Will and Rip got into a fight in a parking lot at the beginning of the season – so, Rip’s days at the 10 Petal Ranch might be numbered.
Rip may soon return to his own ranch, because Rob-Will doesn’t seem like he’ll be a good boss.
Per Paramount, “Dutton Ranch” had the biggest series debut in the platform’s history, drawing over 12 million viewers in its first week.
The show has not yet been renewed for a Season 2 amid behind-the-scenes reshuffling.
“Yellowstone” mastermind Taylor Sheridan produces the show, but Chad Feehan was the showrunner – and he was quietly let go three weeks before the premiere amid rumors of clashing with Hauser and Riley.
“Chad won’t be returning should the show be picked up for a second season,” a source told Page Six at the time.
So, the show currently has a big audience — just no showrunner.
“Dutton Ranch” airs Fridays on Paramount+ and at 8 p.m on Paramount.