Dutton Ranch’s Cole Hauser Admits to “Challenges” Without Yellowstone’s Taylor Sheridan as Showrunner

Cole Hauser learned life might be better on the ranch—but it isn’t always easy.

The Dutton Ranch star confessed filming the first season of the Yellowstone spinoff without creator Taylor Sheridan on set as the showrunner was more difficult than the team had anticipated. 

“There were challenges not having Taylor there,” Hauser told Film Inside NYC July 18. “For us to really be able to work with these new writers, these new directors, these people—everything had changed.”

Though the fourth series in Sheridan’s Western universe—also featuring Kelly Reilly as Hauser’s onscreen wife and Ed Harris as the town veterinarian—was originally helmed by showrunner Chad Feehan, the executive producer stepped down from the role before the May 1 premiere. (Benjamin Cavell has since been announced as the season two showrunner.)

Indeed, Hauser remarked “the only normality” in filming the Paramount+ show was working with his returning cast and crew, like his TV son Finn Little.

As such, the 51-year-old said being able to “figure out on our feet how to perform and tell a story” was a reason to be “proud of what we accomplished,” admitting, “I enjoy a challenge [and] it certainly was a challenge.”