Even though “Dutton Ranch” hasn’t aired yet, the drama has already begun.
The Yellowstone spinoff, set to air in just three weeks, has “quietly let go” of showrunner Chad Feehan.
“If the show airs for a second season, Chad will not be returning,” a source told Page Six.
Sources told PACK, which first reported the news on Friday, that Feehan “had a conflict on set” with series cast and executive producers Cole Hauser and Kelly Reilly, who play Rip Wheeler and Beth Dutton, respectively.
In addition to Reilly and Hauser, Yellowstone creator Taylor Sheridan and 101 Studios boss David Glasser are also reportedly not happy with Feehan’s work in season one.
While Sheridan created the original “Yellowstone” world, Feehan came on board as showrunner for season one of “Dutton Ranch.”
Pack reported Friday that Paramount had “confidence in the show,” but said behind-the-scenes problems were with Feehan’s way of running the production.
Page Six has reached out to Paramount and Feehan for comment.
“Yellowstone” aired on Paramount from 2018 to 2024 and followed the powerful Dutton Ranch family, including patriarch John Dutton (Kevin Costner) and his adult children, sons Casey (Luke Grimes) and Jamie (Wes Bentley), spitfire daughter Beth (Riley), and husband Rip (Hauser).
“Yellowstone” ends with a spoiler alert! — John and Jamie die, Beth and Rip move out, and Casey returns to his roots as a U.S. Marshal (as chronicled in his own spin-off show, The Marshalls, currently airing on CBS and renewed for a second season).
“Dutton Ranch” continues the story of fan-favorite couple Beth and Rip as they move from Montana (where “Yellowstone” was set) to Texas.
Feehan getting the ax is just the latest in a long line of behind-the-scenes drama involving the cast of “Yellowstone.”
Costner left the original series during the first half of Season 5 amid rumors of a feud with Sheridan.
Then, in November 2023, Hauser’s coffee brand, Free Rain Coffee Company, was sued by Bosk Ranch, which is owned by Sheridan.
According to San Angelo Live, the lawsuit alleges that Free Reign used “a brand mark that is strikingly similar to Bosque Ranch’s registered trademark and is likely to mislead consumers.”
On December 20 of the same year, the lawsuit was dismissed.
“Dutton Ranch” premieres May 15 at 8pm ET on Paramount Network and Paramount+.
