The Yellowstone spin-off series Dutton Ranch has parted ways with its showrunner, Chad Feehan, just weeks before its premiere on Paramount+. The new show, which follows Beth Dutton (Kelly Reilly) and Rip Wheeler (Cole Hauser) as they start a new life in Texas, is set to debut on May 15.
According to Puck News, Feehan has been informed that he will not return if the series is renewed for a second season. Sources indicate that Taylor Sheridan, the creator of Yellowstone, along with producer David Glasser, were dissatisfied with Feehan's handling of the production. The report claims that Feehan clashed on set with stars Hauser and Reilly, as well as other key cast members who have been part of the Yellowstone franchise for nearly a decade.
The Independent has reached out to Paramount and Feehan for comment but has not yet received a response. It is expected that Sheridan will promote another writer from the Dutton Ranch team to take over as showrunner.
The official logline for the series states: "As Beth and Rip fight to build a future together — far from the ghosts of Yellowstone — they collide with brutal new realities and a ruthless rival ranch that will stop at nothing to protect its empire. In South Texas, blood runs deeper, forgiveness is fleeting, and the cost of survival might just be your soul."
Alongside Reilly and Hauser, the cast includes Ed Harris and Annette Bening. The original Yellowstone series, which aired from 2018 to 2024, was one of the most popular television shows in the United States during its run.
This is not the first behind-the-scenes drama for the franchise. Star Kevin Costner left the series ahead of the second half of the fifth and final season, leading to his character's death. Costner's exit was reportedly due to scheduling conflicts with his film project Horizon, a multi-part Western epic he was directing and starring in. He officially announced his departure in June 2024, citing the need to work more frequently. Sheridan expressed disappointment, noting that it truncated the closure of Costner's character.
