Taylor Sheridan, the creative force behind the Yellowstone universe, is set to become more involved in the upcoming second season of the Paramount+ series "Dutton Ranch." The confirmation comes from star Kelly Reilly, who reprises her role as Beth Dutton.
"I think Taylor is going to be involved as far as some story ideas as well, which is great," Reilly told The Hollywood Reporter. She added that after Sheridan's creative leadership role on the original "Yellowstone" concluded, the first season of "Dutton Ranch" was an effort to navigate the show without his direct day-to-day involvement. Now, he is eager to contribute to future storylines.
Sheridan served as an executive producer for the first season of "Dutton Ranch." Showrunner Chad Feehan departed the series following reported disagreements with Sheridan and 101 Studios head David C. Glasser. For the second season, actor Cole Hauser, who plays Rip Wheeler, was instrumental in selecting Benjamin Cavell as the new showrunner.
"I have a dear friend who worked with him on SEAL Team for six or seven seasons. He's somebody I trust with my life," Hauser said of Cavell. "We went to boot camp together; a lot of time in the jungle together in Louisiana. So it was his recommendation of Ben, and the way creatively that Ben is and the kind of person he is and how his mind works, and we saw a glimpse of it. We had a very good meeting with him, and I cannot wait for this new iteration of Ben and his team of guys that he hires."
"Dutton Ranch" achieved a record-breaking debut, garnering 12.9 million global views in its first week and becoming the biggest original series premiere in Paramount+ history. The show holds an 89 percent critic approval rating on Rotten Tomatoes.
Sheridan, known for his straightforward storytelling aimed at a broad audience, has expressed that winning Emmy awards is not his primary goal. "I'm pretty common and I'm going to tell stories that common people are going to understand. That's most of America," he said on Bill Simmons' podcast. "My goal is to sit somebody on their couch and move them, make them think, make them laugh, scare the s*** out of them, excite them."
The "Dutton Ranch" season two is scheduled to begin filming in early 2027. The ensemble cast also includes Annette Bening, Ed Harris, Finn Little, Jai Courtney, Juan Pablo Raba, J. R. Villarreal, Marc Menchaca, and Natalie Alyn Lind.
Sheridan is also set to leave Paramount. He has signed a five-year overall film and television deal with NBCUniversal, reportedly worth up to $1 billion, beginning in 2029. His recent work also includes overseeing the third season of "Lioness," which premieres August 2 on Paramount+. Other shows created by Sheridan include "Tulsa King," "Landman," "Mayor of Kingstown," "Lawmen: Bass Reeves," and "The Madison."