What does Taylor Sheridan’s recent lawsuit against Rip Wheeler actor Cole Hauser mean for the character’s fate in Yellowstone’s finale — and beyond?
Yellowstone’s viewers are wondering what Taylor Sheridan’s recent lawsuit against Rip Wheeler actor Cole Hauser means for the character’s fate in the upcoming series finale, and the show’s planned sequel, 6666. Co-created by Sheridan and John Linson, Yellowstone premiered in 2018 and, after a five-season run, will come to an end in 2024. Set in Montana, the neo-Western drama centers on the Dutton family and their decades-old Yellowstone Ranch. Kevin Costner plays the family’s current patriarch, John Dutton III, who navigates running the large cattle ranch, which borders the Broken Rock Reservation and Yellowstone National Park, while also dealing with inter-family drama.
In Yellowstone season 5, part 1, Costner’s John Dutton became governor of Montana. Meanwhile, two of John’s children, Jamie (Wes Bentley) and Beth (Kelly Reilly), are locked in a years-long feud that’s finally coming to a violent head as the series winds down. John’s third biological kid, Kayce Dutton (Luke Grimes), is looking after the Yellowstone in his father’s absence, while John’s son-in-law, Rip (Hauser), leads the ranch’s other cowboys to Texas. With John facing impeachment, thanks in large part to Jamie, the ranch’s future hangs in the balance, meaning Rip Wheeler is theoretically primed to play a key role in Yellowstone season 5, part 2.
Why Yellowstone’s Taylor Sheridan Is Suing Rip Wheeler Actor Cole Hauser
Even though Rip Wheeler is poised to assume an even more prominent role in Yellowstone season 5, part 2, viewers have some concerns about the character’s fate after reports of a lawsuit cropped up. In early December 2023, Yellowstone co-creator Taylor Sheridan filed a lawsuit against Cole Hauser, who plays fan-favorite cowboy Rip. Reportedly, Sheridan sued the Yellowstone actor over their similar-looking company logos, claiming both trademark infringement and false advertising. Set to unfold in Texas federal court, the lawsuit sees Sheridan’s Bosque Ranch squaring off against Hauser’s Free Rein coffee company. Perhaps confusingly, both brand logos look like literal cattle brands.
In addition to claiming trademark infringement, Sheridan’s company suggests that Hauser’s Free Rein is trying to “mistake or to deceive as to the affiliation, connection, or association” with Bosque Ranch. Given that the Yellowstone Ranch’s cattle brand plays a memorable role in the series, it isn’t surprising that both Sheridan and Hauser would mimic one of the show’s most iconic visuals in their other professional pursuits. After all, the ultra-popular Paramount series raised both of them to new heights of mainstream fame and visibility. Nonetheless, the lawsuit definitely throws a wrench into the duo’s professional relationship, and, potentially, Yellowstone’s final season.
Taylor Sheridan Already Feuded With Kevin Costner (Who Has Left Yellowstone)
When it comes to Yellowstone’s cast of returning season 5 characters, it seems like Governor John Dutton III will not be among them. In season 5’s first half, John, perhaps surprisingly, lends support to his long-time rival Thomas Rainwater (Gil Birmingham), a casino mogul and chief of the nearby reservation, in defiance of a pipeline’s imminent construction. Meanwhile, Beth and John have forged an even stronger alliance in the face of Jamie’s call for his father’s impeachment. Even though the stakes are incredibly high — both the ranch’s future and the Duttons’ legacy are threatened — Kevin Costner won’t be returning for Yellowstone’s ending.
Unfortunately, Kevin Costner’s Yellowstone season-five absence stems from behind-the-scenes conflicts with Sheridan. When it came to John Dutton’s fate, Costner wasn’t willing to sign off on a finale he didn’t find fitting. Frustrated with the new creative direction of the show, Costner also came to blows with Sheridan over an unpaid salary dispute. Needless to say, the Hauser-Sheridan lawsuit isn’t the neo-Western creator’s first conflict with a series’ cast member. Unlike the Sheridan-Costner feud, which was brewing for quite some time, there’s no current evidence to suggest that Bosque Ranch’s lawsuit against Free Rein will prompt Wheeler to leave the show.
How Will Taylor Sheridan Suing Cole Hauser Impact Rip Wheeler’s Yellowstone Fate?
It’s hard to imagine a satisfying way for Kevin Costner to leave Yellowstone. As the show’s five-season run comes to a close, viewers are wondering how Yellowstone will conclude not just John Dutton’s story, but those of the other Dutton family members and allies, too. When it comes to who will die in Yellowstone season 5, part 2, Rip Wheeler seems to be an unlikely candidate. In recent episodes, Rip has really taken the reins at Yellowstone Ranch, becoming something of John’s adopted heir apparent. The long-suffering cowboy has weathered enough hardship, even for a harsh show like Yellowstone, so his death doesn’t seem like a fitting finale.
Plus, what happens to Beth and Rip might be Yellowstone season 5’s key story. As one of the show’s fan-favorite characters, Rip is also primed to appear in the upcoming Yellowstone sequel series, 6666. All of that said, Taylor Sheridan’s conflict with Kevin Costner proves that what happens off-screen can impact the show’s narrative in substantial ways. The feud between the co-creator and star led to Yellowstone losing its protagonist ahead of its finale, after all. While the issues in both situations differ greatly, the Costner departure has illustrated that no actor’s role in Yellowstone is a guarantee.
Rip Wheeler Might Not Appear In Yellowstone Spinoffs If The Conflict Worsens
Even if the lawsuit filed against Cole Hauser’s coffee company, Free Rein, doesn’t impact the outcome of Yellowstone season 5, part 2, it may lead to a rift between Hauser and Sheridan going forward. So far, not much is known about Yellowstone’s spinoff, 6666, but the sequel series has a lot of potential to feature preexisting Yellowstone universe characters. It’s more than likely that 6666 will introduce a slate of new characters to follow, but it would make for a compelling “in” if Sheridan also featured a character or two audiences are already familiar with. When it comes to likability, Rip (and Beth) are high on the list.
Narrative-wise, shifting the two characters from Montana to Texas also makes plenty of sense. Rip has been to the Four Sixes before, and he’s currently leading a group of cowboys to the spinoff’s titular ranch, making a long-term stint in the Lone Star State pretty natural. Of course, an ongoing conflict may negatively impact Hauser and Sheridan’s future on-screen collaborations. If the lawsuit becomes more contentious or leads to massive financial ramifications, the two might avoid working with each other on future Yellowstone universe shows, even if audiences would love to see Hauser’s Rip Wheeler in future installments.