Ed Harris, a star of the Paramount+ series "Dutton Ranch," reportedly had a significant impact on the show's direction following his first season, with sources claiming his complaints about feeling "underused and inconsequential" contributed to a shakeup that included the departure of showrunner Chad Feehan. Benjamin Cavell was subsequently appointed as the new showrunner for the second season, and Harris was reportedly involved in the selection process.
According to a Deadline report, the decision to replace Feehan was "largely related" to how Harris' character was perceived to be underutilized. Harris himself had previously shared in an interview with Variety that he was ready to leave the show midway through filming its first season, feeling "misled" about his character's role.
"Prior to signing on for it, I was talked to quite a bit about what the season was, and what my character was going to do — and that I was one of the four main characters. And that wasn't really the case," Harris told Variety. He cited an instance where a scene featuring his character, Everett McKinney, included a musical number that was ultimately cut, which he felt was a reason to void his contract.
Harris indicated he voiced his frustrations to production, stating, "I said, 'I'm feeling underused and inconsequential,' and they kind of went, 'Oh.'" He was informed that his character would have a more substantial role in the second season. Despite these frustrations, Harris remained committed to the series for two seasons, and it remains unclear if he seriously considered departing.
"Dutton Ranch," which premiered in May, is a continuation of "Yellowstone" and follows Beth Dutton and Rip Wheeler as they establish a ranch in South Texas. Fox News Digital reached out to Paramount, Harris, and Cavell for comment.