Yellowstone star Cole Hauser, who played the fan-favorite cowboy Rip Wheeler in all five seasons of the hit Paramount Network show, revealed he was initially approached for a different character in the series. Following Yellowstone’s ending in 2024, fans of the Taylor Sheridan-created Western franchise await future spin-offs. 1923 concluded a historic chapter in the Dutton family saga, while The Madison is among the new spin-offs set to premiere in 2026. Another sequel series, focused on Rip Wheeler and Beth Dutton, is also in the works.

Speaking with THR, Cole Hauser spoke about his time on Yellowstone​​​​​​, explaining that the show was originally brought to him by co-creator John Linson (Sons of Anarchy, Yellowstone). At the time, Linson and Sheridan were considering Hauser to play one of John Dutton’s sons, which would have meant Kayce, Jamie, or Lee Dutton. Hauser mentioned that he read the pilot and became fascinated with Rip Wheeler, then spoke to Taylor Sheridan, and the pair expanded on the character to give him a more prominent role. Read his full quote below:

“John Linson was a friend of mine way before I met Taylor Sheridan. I’ve known him since I was 17 years old. I met him through a buddy of mine. He came to me initially [with Yellowstone] and said, “Take a look at these different roles and tell me what you think.” In the beginning it was to play one of the children of John Dutton. I read the pilot and I thought, well this guy [Rip] only has a couple of scenes, but I love the character. I got on the phone with Taylor. We spoke for two hours, and that was kind of it. Then I started to work with and be around Taylor while he was writing and he started building the character along with some of the ideas that I had. But he’s a tremendous American writer. It was a great collaboration.”

What Cole Hauser’s Yellowstone Revelation Means

Yellowstone Could Have Turned Out Very Different

Be it Kayce, Jamie, or Rip, Yellowstone’s characters are thoroughly ingrained in the minds of audiences after dozens of episodes. It’s hard to imagine Cole Hauser as any other character, but it seems possible that they were eyeing him to play Kayce. He could have fit well as Lee Dutton, but Lee had a notably limited role, dying at the end of the pilot. Cole Hauser is one of the most recognizable actors in the series, and it seems doubtful they would have brought him on just for the opening two episodes.

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That’s most speculation, though, as, according to his comments, his involvement resulted in subsequent changes to the characters. One of Taylor Sheridan’s greatest assets is that he knows how to write for his actors, playing to their strengths and bringing out the best in them. If Cole Hauser played Kayce, or Lee for that matter, Yellowstone could have ended up becoming a very different series, possibly not even succeeding to the degree it did.

Our Take On Cole Hauser’s Yellowstone Casting Process

Cole Hauser Helped To Develop An Iconic Character

Say what you will about Taylor Sheridan’s shows, but the guy undoubtedly knows how to write a compelling and unforgettable character. Be it the series lead or the fifteenth most important character, Yellowstone is packed with memorable figures. Rip Wheeler is arguably the show’s best. He became a fan-favorite over time, not only due to Hauser’s career-defining performance, but also because of the immaculate dialogue he’s given throughout the show. It would be impossible to imagine Cole Hauser playing any other Yellowstone character.