Cole Hauser said filming Dutton Ranch in Texas made it difficult to maintain the extra weight he usually puts on for Rip Wheeler, because the state’s intense heat caused him to sweat it off. The Yellowstone spinoff follows Rip and Beth as they adjust to life in Texas after leaving Montana, and the move has created challenges both for the characters and the production team. Hauser explained that he normally gains about 25 pounds for the role, but the triple-digit temperatures made keeping it on a struggle.
Series director Christina Alexandra Voros said the crew dealt with extreme weather during production, including a first week of shooting in temperatures around 106 degrees and a four-day shutdown caused by an ice storm before filming wrapped in March. The show experienced a wide range of conditions while shooting in Texas, adding to the difficulty of the production.
Despite the harsh weather, Dutton Ranch has performed strongly for Paramount, reportedly drawing 12.9 million viewers and Paramount+ subscribers over its first seven days. The series centers on Beth Dutton and Rip Wheeler, whose relationship has remained a major draw for fans even without much of the rest of the Dutton family.
The story also raises questions about possible crossovers with other Yellowstone universe projects, including whether Kayce Dutton, played by Luke Grimes, might appear on Dutton Ranch or whether Beth and Rip could show up on Marshals first. For now, the focus remains on Rip and Beth’s new life in Texas, even as Hauser says he would be happy to trade the heat for the cooler mountains of Montana.
New episodes of Dutton Ranch air Fridays at 8 p.m. ET on Paramount Network and Paramount+.
