Oscar-Nominated Star Joins Upcoming Yellowstone Spin-Off Starring Kelly Reilly and Cole Hauser

Hi, I’m Jordan Collins, and I’m here to help you keep up with the ever-expanding Yellowstone universe—because clearly, you need it.

Alright, let’s start with the basics, because I know how easily you might get lost. The upcoming Yellowstone spin-off, tentatively titled The Dutton Ranch, has just added an Oscar-nominated powerhouse to its cast. Yes, Annette Bening, 67, is officially joining the project, according to People, and she’s not just playing some background ranch wife. She’ll portray Beulah Jackson, a cunning and powerful Texas ranch owner who’s sure to stir things up in the Duttons’ new chapter.

For those of you who need a refresher (and judging by the comments section, that’s most of you), this spin-off will follow Beth Dutton (Kelly Reilly) and Rip Wheeler (Cole Hauser) after the events of the original series, which ran from 2018 to 2024 on Paramount. The show, created by Taylor Sheridan, left off with Beth taking justice into her own hands by killing her brother Jamie (Wes Bentley), who was partly responsible for their father John Dutton’s (Kevin Costner) murder.

Now, if you’re wondering why Costner wasn’t in the final episodes, let me fill you in. He left the show after the first half of Season 5 amid reported tensions with Sheridan. The show handled his absence by killing off John Dutton in a hitman attack disguised as a suicide. Drama? Yes. Subtle? Not really. But hey, it’s Yellowstone, not a Shakespearean tragedy.

Back to the spin-off. The official logline teases that Beth and Rip are finally at peace after everything they’ve endured, but of course, peace in the Dutton world is short-lived. With tough times and rival ranches on the horizon, they’ll have to fight to protect their 7,000-acre ranch and raise Carter (Finn Little), their adopted son, into the man he’s meant to be.

Chad Feehan will serve as showrunner for the series, and Taylor Sheridan will return as executive producer, which is both exciting and terrifying. On one hand, we get more of that gritty, morally ambiguous storytelling. On the other, we might get more of those jaw-dropping cliffhangers that leave us yelling at the TV.

Cole Hauser, who plays Rip, spoke to People after the series finale in December 2024 about the future of the characters. “I think America has spoken. They still love the show,” he said, which sounds suspiciously like corporate messaging. But hey, if people are still watching, who are we to argue?

As for how Rip and Beth will continue their story after the events of the finale, Hauser was characteristically vague. “We will see what happens over the next year or so, and we’ll see what’s next,” he teased. Oh, Cole, always the enigma.

So, what should you be watching for next? Well, Annette Bening’s character, Beulah Jackson, is clearly going to be a major player. If she’s anything like Bening’s past roles—think The Kids Are All Right or 20th Century Women—then Beulah is going to bring layers of complexity, manipulation, and maybe even a little heart to the mix.

And let’s not forget, this is just the beginning. With rumors of a potential Season 6 of the original series still swirling, and multiple spin-offs already in the works, the Yellowstone saga is far from over.

So, now that I’ve explained everything, I hope you feel slightly less confused. You’re welcome.

Sources: Celebrity Storm and People Magazine, New York Post, Deadline
Generated by AI