Cole Hauser has revealed that he lost too much weight while filming his Yellowstone spinoff Dutton Ranch in Texas. The actor, who portrays Rip Wheeler on the popular series, attributed the weight loss to the extreme heat during production.
Extreme Conditions on Set
Hauser explained that the show was shot when temperatures reached 106 degrees Fahrenheit in the Lone Star State. The oppressive heat caused him to lose his appetite, which posed a challenge for his character Wheeler, known for his robust physique. 'I was trying to keep weight on. I mean, I usually put on about 25 pounds [to play Rip], but it was hard to keep it on,' the 51-year-old actor told People.
The Santa Barbara native added, 'I was sweating it out' due to the blistering hot days spent filming outdoors. Season one of Dutton Ranch was shot entirely on location in North-Central Texas, a stark contrast to the cool mountains of Montana where Yellowstone was filmed.
Cast and Crew Endure the Heat
The Dutton Ranch characters also struggle with the heat. In the first episode, Kelly Reilly's tough-as-nails Beth Dutton complained about the sweltering conditions, waking up sweating even at night in Texas. Director Christina Alexandra Voros confirmed Hauser's account, stating that when filming began on the spinoff, it was 'around 106 degrees for the first week that we were shooting.'
Voros added, 'We finished the show in March and we got shut down for four days because of an ice storm. So we had every weather emoji over the course of shooting this. Our crew is really intrepid. Our cast is really intrepid. We got through all of it, but it wasn't easy.'
More Screen Time for Hauser
Despite the challenges, Hauser is pleased to have more screen time on his own show. 'It was more responsibility, to be quite honest, which I think Kelly and I took on and enjoyed, for the most part,' he told People.
Dutton Ranch focuses on the married couple Rip Wheeler and Beth Dutton. They gamble everything on a new life in South Texas, but the promise of building a future far from the ghosts of Yellowstone quickly collides with new realities and a rival ranch that will stop at nothing to protect its empire. The cast also includes Finn Little as their adopted son Carter.
Last year, Hauser expressed excitement about picking up his character where Yellowstone ended. He told The Hollywood Reporter, 'Kelly and I are focused on [Rip and Beth’s] relationship and our love together, and what we’re going to get [them] into. I’m excited just like everybody else.'
