Dutton Ranch feud ‘heats up’ between Taylor Sheridan and Cole Hauser after years of tension

I’ve said it once and I’ll say it again: It wouldn’t be a Taylor Sheridan show without some drama. According to a new report, a rift is growing between the Yellowstone creator and Dutton Ranch star Cole Hauser.

If you remember, back in 2023, reports emerged that there were behind-the-scenes tensions surrounding Yellowstone, particularly between Sheridan and lead star Kevin Costner, who eventually departed the project and was absent from the second half of the final season.

Although that was all done and dusted, a new situation unfolded with the sequel series Dutton Ranch, which centres on Rip Wheeler (Hauser) and Beth Dutton (Kelly Reilly) as they build a new life for themselves in Texas.

Earlier this year, showrunner Chad Feehan was fired from the show. We still don’t know why, but plenty of reports suggested tensions between Feehan and the cast. Then, in the latest bout of drama, Ed Harris badmouthed season one, saying he felt “misled” by how little he was in it.

Oh, and last month, writer Lauren J. Salkin took out a lawsuit against Sheridan accusing him of stealing the idea for Yellowstone, which is still up in the air.

Despite this, season two of Dutton Ranch is going ahead at Paramount. But it appears the behind-the-scenes drama isn’t over yet, with a new report claiming tensions are now growing between Hauser and the Yellowstone creator.

Their ‘beef’ goes back years

A source told the Daily Mail that the two nearly came to blows, and that the situation hasn’t been helped by Hauser criticising the fact that Sheridan isn’t directly involved in the making of Dutton Ranch, instead serving as executive producer.

“Cole has had beef with Taylor for a while,” the insider said. “Taylor can be a harsh Texas guy. He is super straightforward and thinks fast, so he can come off as brutal, but he is just on top of his game, and he is brilliant. Cole is more casual, more surfer dude.”

According to the source, their issues go back years. In fact, a 2022 Men’s Journal report stated that Hauser and Sheridan got into a fist fight the second time they ever met.

“I’ve probably been in one on every continent,” the Rip actor said at the time. “I don’t think there’s anything wrong with fighting. Sometimes I’m just tired of words, so let’s beat the s**t out of each other… It’s kind of what guys do.”

But apparently that wasn’t the last time things almost got physical. The Daily Mail’s source claimed the pair nearly had another fist fight while working on Yellowstone.

“When they were filming Yellowstone, they almost got into a fist fight,” the insider claimed. “They butted heads big time because they are so different. But then they were OK in the end, the dust-up was short-lived.”

Things got considerably more official in 2023, when Sheridan’s Bosque Ranch sued Hauser’s coffee company Free Rein over its logo. The lawsuit accused the company of trademark infringement, unfair competition and false advertising, although the dispute was privately settled the following year.

Now, their apparent tensions have reportedly spilled over into Dutton Ranch. Hauser admitted earlier this year that making the first season without Sheridan’s usual involvement had been a “challenge”.

 

 

 

 

 

 

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According to the Daily Mail’s source, Sheridan wasn’t exactly thrilled about that comment. “Whether Cole knew it or not, he was sounding an alarm that told the world that there were problems on Dutton Ranch, and that was not appreciated,” they claimed.

They also described the pair as “oil and water”, arguing that their very different personalities are ultimately at the heart of their clashes.

Despite all of this, there’s nothing to suggest Hauser is going anywhere. Another Hollywood insider said, “Cole has a lot of respect for Taylor, so he shuts up. He is extremely grateful that Taylor made him a star with Yellowstone and he now has a job with Dutton Ranch.

“He knows he owes Taylor a lot. Cole always struggled before Yellowstone, he never had a big paycheck until Yellowstone came along.”

Neither Sheridan nor Hauser have publicly responded to the latest claims. Film Shrine has reached out to their representatives for comment.

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Featured image credit: Paramount+