Dutton Ranch is officially renewed — but not everyone is coming back in season 2.
Paramount+’s hit franchise started with Yellowstone, which premiered in 2018 and introduced viewers to the fictional Dutton family. The show came to an end in 2024, expanding its universe with Luke Grimes‘ CBS show Marshals and Dutton Ranch.
“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,” the show’s synopsis read. “In South Texas, blood runs deeper, forgiveness is fleeting, and the cost of survival might just be your soul.”
Weeks before Dutton Ranch’s debut in May 2026, Us Weekly confirmed that Chad Feehan will not return as showrunner after completing work on season 1. Puck News reported that Feehan, who created Lawmen: Bass Reeves with Taylor Sheridan, stepped away from Dutton Ranch after alleged friction with series stars Cole Hauser and Kelly Reilly, among others.
Sheridan and his producing partner David Glasser, along with the two leads, were allegedly more unhappy with how Feehan ran the production than with the scripts. None of them have publicly addressed the speculation into the drama.
Over the years, Sheridan has acknowledged his preference for not using writers’ rooms, telling The Hollywood Reporter in 2023, “But when you hire a room that may not be motivated by those same qualities — and a writer always wants to take ownership of something they’re writing — and I give this directive and they’re not feeling it, then they’re going to come up with their own qualities. So for me, writers rooms, they haven’t worked.”
Keep scrolling to see who else isn’t — and is — returning for season 2:
Kelly Reilly
There would be no Yellowstone spinoff without a Dutton.
Cole Hauser
And there would be no Beth without Rip so both leads are returning.
Finn Little
Carter will remain front and center on the show.
Juan Pablo Raba
Joaquin’s presence has only increased episode to episode on Dutton Ranch.
Jai Courtney
Rob-Will is the big bad of season 1 but his future on the show beyond that is unclear.
J. R. Villarreal
Villarreal will likely be back as Azul.
Marc Menchaca
As a ranch hand hired by Rip, Zachariah’s chances of being in season 2 are big.
Natalie Alyn Lind
Oreana romance with Carter has Us on the edge of our seats … likely into season 2.
Ed Harris
Harris is expected to return as Everett a.k.a the local veterinarian.
Annette Bening
Season 1 shocked viewers when Beulah suffered a heart attack so her future is currently unclear.
