The Paramount Network’s Western drama “Yellowstone” rides tall in the TV ratings saddle: the fifth season debut of Taylor Sheridan’s series was the most-watched program on television in 2021 outside of football (via Variety). Its spin-off series look to continue the trend among viewers: “1883,” the prequel series to “Yellowstone,” broke records as the biggest new series premiere on cable since 2015 (via Variety), while a third franchise title, “1923,” with Harrison Ford and Helen Mirren, currently holds a 88% rating on Rotten Tomatoes. The presence of major stars like Ford and Mirren, as well as Kevin Costner in “Yellowstone” and country super-talents Tim McGraw and Faith Hill in “1883,” confirm that a role in Sheridan’s franchise is a chance to appear before a massive audience of devoted fans.
And yet, not every actor has chomped at the bit to ride the range at the Yellowstone Dutton Ranch. A handful of performers have approached the offer of a stint on “Yellowstone” with caution, and even refused the chance to appear on the series. Like everyone, actors have their reasons for turning down an opportunity; here’s a chance to find out — with spoilers, of course — why these actors refused roles in the “Yellowstone” franchise.
Cole Hauser’s reps wanted him to play a different role
As Rip Wheeler, John Dutton’s right hand man on “Yellowstone,” actor Cole Hauser appears in both tough and tender character arcs: he is a no-nonsense presence among the ranch workers and those unfortunate enough to be caught trespassing on the property, but he’s also front and center in one of the show’s most heartfelt romances, with Dutton’s daughter Beth (Kelly Reilly). Hauser handles both aspects with skill, but he might have been tackling different storylines had he listened to his management team.
In an interview for the Ryen Russillo Podcast, Hauser said that he received the script for “Yellows tone” from his friend, John Linson, who serves as the show’s co-creator and one of its executive producers. Linson believed that he would be perfect for a role on the series, and according to Hauser, his representation encouraged him to pursue one of John Dutton’s sons. Hauser, however, had different ideas.
“I just didn’t see it,” he explained. “The one [character] that jumped off the page was Rip, and [his management team] were like, ‘What are you doing? It’s two scenes in a pilot.'” But Hauser had a feeling about Rip, and stuck to his guns: “I said, ‘No, this character’s gonna have something really good. I can just feel it.'” As it turned out, Hauser was right: Rip is one of the show’s most popular characters, and his relationship with Beth, which culminated in marriage in Season 4, is among its best-loved storylines.
Kevin Costner considered passing on Yellowstone
Kevin Costner lends such a degree of authority and screen presence to “Yellowstone” that it’s hard to imagine the series without him. But in an interview with “Entertainment Tonight” (via ET Online), the Oscar-winning actor and filmmaker suggested that he wasn’t initially sure about joining the Paramount series after hearing the initial pitch. “I thought we were going to do one long movie — 10 hours,” he told ET. “So I’m down with long. I understand long really well,” said Costner, whose efforts as a director — the Best Picture winner “Dances With Wolves,” as well as “The Postman” and “Open Range” — all clock in at more than two hours.
But upon discovering that Taylor Sheridan intended to make “Yellowstone” as a series, Costner said that he found himself thinking his initial decision over. “You kinda have to look at things again,” he explained. He eventually signed on to play John Dutton on “Yellowstone,” though remained tight-lipped about his change of mind. “I have my own internal reasons why I ended up doing it, but ultimately, there’s that window of opportunity … [where] you gotta jump creatively, and so I did that,” he continued. The decision proved positive for Costner on both a professional and personal level. “I’m happy for the show and everyone in it,” he said.