This Yellowstone Star Never Auditioned — Taylor Sheridan Wrote the Role Specifically for Him md06

Most Yellowstone fans would agree that casting Cole Hauser as Rip Wheeler was one of the best decisions that Taylor Sheridan and his creative team made in laying the groundwork for their hit series. Rip gradually grew into one of Yellowstone‘s best characters, overcoming limited screentime in the early episodes to become a central focus by the end of the series. Hauser is one of the few people who recognized the potential of Rip’s character from the very beginning, seeing through his limited screentime in the pilot to get to the complicated character beneath the tough exterior. Having someone who believes in the character they are playing is more important to a series than most viewers may recognize. Great actors can make scripts and characters they don’t believe in work, but something truly special happens when an actor is passionate about their role and the story they get to be a part of. Hauser’s insistence on playing Rip in Yellowstone proves not only that he was passionate about the series but also the character he was playing. His enthusiasm bleeds through in every scene, helping him become one of the most memorable parts of an already celebrated series.

It helps that Rip Wheeler is also brilliantly written, with Taylor Sheridan making sure not to portray him as a one-note cowboy. This is what drew Hauser to the role in the first place, as he sensed that there was something deeper going on with Rip than being the Duttons’ chief enforcer. Through his interactions with Beth, Rip reveals a softer side to his personality that culminates in one of the most wholesome relationships in the entire series. Over time, viewers also learn much more about Rip’s backstory, including the troubled family life that led him to take up residence with the Duttons. His relationship with John also turns out to be surprisingly complex, with Rip viewing the Dutton family patriarch as a pseudo-father. Rip turns out to be one of the most emotionally complex and intriguing characters in the entire Yellowstone universe, thanks to a terrific partnership between a writer interested in crafting multi-tiered characters and an actor who truly believes in his character.

Cole Hauser Finally Takes a Leading Role in Dutton Ranch

Image via Paramount Pictures

As popular as Rip Wheeler became in the initial run of Yellowstone, he was still only a small cog in a much bigger story about other characters. Now, thanks to his appearance in the upcoming Dutton Ranch spinoff, Rip is poised to take center stage alongside Kelly Reilly’s Beth. The highly anticipated spinoff will seize the opportunity to delve even deeper into Rip’s character, including his relationship with his wife and newfound responsibilities as a father figure to the young Carter. This will allow Cole Hauser to explore different faces of the character he fell in love with so many years ago, keeping his story interesting despite his abundance of screen time.

This makes the next installment of Taylor Sheridan’s television empire all the more exciting, as fans can look forward to the beginning of a new chapter for Rip and Beth. Their two character, perhaps more than anyone, deserve a fresh start where they no longer have to worry about fighting to preserve the Duttons’ ancestral ranch. Instead, they can focus on building a solid foundation for the rest of their lives, hopefully living in peace on their new tract of land in rural Montana. Of course, they are bound to face new challenges as well, as their new spinoff series will reveal. Even so, the future looks bright for both Rip and Beth as they set out on a new journey together.

Yellowstone is available to stream on Peacock.

The other Yellowstone spinoff series are available to stream on Paramount+.