Every Dutton Ranch Cast Member and Character Explained: Who's Back & Who Is Gone For Good
The Yellowstone franchise has grown once more with the launch of Dutton Ranch, a sequel series that continues the main timeline.
This time, we’re out of Montana and heading down to Texas with Beth Dutton and Rip Wheeler, who are starting a new life on a new ranch.
There are familiar faces in the Dutton Ranch cast who need no introduction. Still, here, we break down all the major players, as well as the other Yellowstone characters who missed the invite to Taylor Sheridan’s newest series.
Kelly Reilly and Cole Hauser Reprise Their Yellowstone Roles
Kelly Reilly stole the show in Yellowstone time and time again as Beth Dutton. Now, she’s the one in the spotlight in Dutton Ranch. She’s the feisty daughter of the late John Dutton, who takes no nonsense from anyone. You may have seen Reilly previously in movies like Eden Lake and Flight.
Cole Hauser, meanwhile, has been there since day one as one of the coolest cowboys around. His character Rip Wheeler may be a violent badass most of the time, but deep down, he’s actually a romantic softie – especially around Beth. Hauser has appeared in films such as Dazed and Confused and Good Will Hunting.
The other character to have crossed over from Yellowstone into Dutton Ranch is Carter, the young boy Beth and Rip took in as their own son. The teenager had a tough upbringing, but he’s now getting to grips with being a cowboy, working his way through high school, and becoming a good young man in the process. Finn Little plays Carter, and the Australian actor has also worked with Taylor Sheridan on Those Who Wish Me Dead.
Ed Harris, Annette Bening, and the New Faces in Dutton Ranch
A recurring theme with every new Sheridan project is the addition of absolute A-list talent to the cast. 1923 had Harrison Ford and Helen Mirren, and the recent series The Madison featured Michelle Pfeiffer and Kurt Russell.
In Dutton Ranch, Sheridan has recruited Ed Harris and Annette Bening. The former has been nominated for four Oscars, most notably for his roles in The Truman Show and Apollo 13. Bening, meanwhile, has five nominations, including one for her role in American Beauty.
In the new show, Harris plays ex-Navy SEAL-turned-veterinarian, Everett McKinney, who befriends Beth. Bening, on the other hand, plays one of the main antagonists, Beulah Jackson, a rival landowner who gets off on the wrong foot when she first meets Beth.
Other new characters include Rob-Will, a violent wild card who’s part of the Jackson clan. He’s played by Jai Courtney, who’s previously appeared in Suicide Squad and Terminator Genisys. He’s kept on a tight leash by Joaquin, played by Juan Pablo Raba, who was among the cast for the hit Netflix series Narcos.
Helping out on the titular ranch is Azul, a hard-working and loyal ranch hand played by J. R. Villarreal. You may have seen Villarreal in another Sheridan series, Landman. Azul’s buddy, Zachariah, joins the team after getting out of prison. He’s a religious man who is desperate to put his messy past behind him. Zachariah is played by Marc Menchaca, who you’ll recognise from shows like Ozark and Homeland.
One other new character who could be very interesting is Oreana, played by Natalie Alyn Lind. Oreana strikes up a complicated relationship with Carter early in the series, but her ties to the Jackson family mean she will have to decide which side of the rivalry to align with. Lind has previously had key roles in shows like The Goldbergs and The Gifted.
Who Else Could Join Dutton Ranch – and Who Never Will?
It would not be at all surprising to see other Yellowstone actors make the trip to Texas to join the Dutton Ranch cast in the future. The most obvious candidates for that venture are the likes of Lloyd (Forrie J. Smith), Teeter (Jen Landon), Ryan (Ian Bohen), and Walker (Ryan Bingham). The former Yellowstone ranch hands have the experience and skills needed to help Beth and Rip, so it would make sense to recruit them.
We can also probably expect Taylor Sheridan himself to make a cameo. His character, Travis, runs the 6666 ranch in Texas, and Sheridan loves to pop up in his own shows from time to time. If Travis does appear, he may well bring Jimmy along, too. He’s the former Yellowstone ranch hand played by Jefferson White, who was supposed to get his own series, though talk on that front has gone quiet.
One crossover idea that is particularly tantalising for Yellowstone fans is Luke Grimes (aka Kayce Dutton), who is currently tearing it up in Marshals, reuniting with his sister Beth in some capacity. Kelly Reilly has spoken about wanting that to happen, and it would make a lot of sense to see the two siblings together again, even briefly.
There are a couple of characters we can absolutely rule out from ever joining the Dutton Ranch: John Dutton and Jamie Dutton. The former, played by Kevin Costner, was killed off in the final season of Yellowstone after deciding he no longer wanted to play the character. Beth’s (adopted) brother Jamie will also never return – he was stabbed to death by Beth in the finale of Yellowstone, and she and Rip dumped his body at the ‘Train Station’.
Dutton Ranch begins on 15 May on Paramount+.
