A Look at Ed Harris’ Thoughts on the ‘Dutton Ranch’ Cast After Feeling ‘Misled’

Ed Harris is opening up about what working on a Taylor Sheridan show is really like—and spoiler alert, it doesn’t sound as glamorous as you might think. In a recent interview with Variety, the actor claimed that he felt like he was “misled” about how involved he was going to be with the highly anticipated Yellowstone spinoff Dutton Ranch. This is quite different from what his screen partner Kelly Reilly (who plays Beth Dutton) on the show has said about Harris in the past, causing fans to wonder what really went on behind the scenes and whether or not the two actually get along. We share everything we know thus far about Harris’ thoughts on Dutton Ranch and if he will return for Season 2 below.

A look at Ed Harris’ thoughts on ‘Dutton Ranch’ 

Long before fans knew what Dutton Ranch was going to be about, Paramount decided to share that Ed Harris would be joining the cast as Everett McKinney, a local veterinarian and cowboy. At the time it was believed that he was going to be a major character on the show, with Reilly herself saying that Harris and Annette Bening—another newcomer—made the show “legit.”

“We could have just been a little soapy spinoff, and we’re not because of them,” Reilly told TV Insider earlier this year. “We’re a drama, we’re a new show and it’s got some heavyweights in it. We’re very proud to be working with them.” 

Harris, as it turns out, felt differently, telling Variety that he thought he was going to have a much longer impact on the show’s plot.

“Midway through this first season, I was ready to go. I said, ‘Get me the f-ck out of here,’ to tell you the truth, because I didn’t feel like I was being used… I felt a little bit misled. 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,” Harris said. “And that wasn’t really the case.”

“I said, ‘I’m feeling underused and inconsequential,’ and they kind of went, ‘Oh,’” the actor continued, before sharing what almost made him quit the show altogether. “The thing that really pissed me off to tell you the truth… one of the things they told me before I signed on, they said, ‘Hey you get to sing.’ You’re in the bar, right? So there’s this scene in there… I’m talking to [Beth Dutton] at the bar, and [Rip Wheeler, played by Cole Hauser] comes in and says, ‘OK, Everett, come on, it’s your turn.’ I walk up to the mic, and they cut it. They cut the song out. I’m going, ‘F-ck y–, people. [It was] enough reason to say I’m voiding my contract.”

As of publication, Reilly, Hauser, Sheridan and Paramount have not commented on Harris’ claims. They also have not shared if his attitude toward certain things impacted how his character was treated on the show.

Will Ed Harris be in ‘Dutton Ranch’ Season 2? 

When she was speaking to TV Insider, Reilly did reveal that Harris was returning for Season 2. She also shared that his character would have a much larger role.

“I think Season 2 is going to feel very much more Ed’s show,” Reilly assured. “This is not the Beth and Rip show. This is Dutton Ranch, and there’s [five] lead characters. Annette Bening and Ed Harris, it’s such a privilege to have them come join our show.” 

Harris echoed similar thoughts when speaking with Variety, telling them, “[We will start filming] in February and I’m being told my character will have a little bit more to do [in Season 2]. I was just a little frustrated.” 

“When I watched this season [Season 1], it’s fine. I thought it’s pretty good. I felt fine about what I did in it,” the actor continued. “It seemed like I was relatively important to the story, but the doing of it did not feel that way.” 

Season 1 of Dutton Ranch is available to stream now on Paramount+. 

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