Yellowstone Officially Confirms Rip’s Replacement in Dutton Ranch

Taylor Sheridan’s neo-Western franchise has replaced the role that Rip (Cole Hauser) plays in Yellowstone, as he and Beth (Kelly Reilly) take on a new venture in their spinoff, Dutton Ranch. A sequel to Yellowstone, which ended with Season 5 in 2024, Dutton Ranch follows the Yellowstone couple as they relocate to Texas and buy a ranch in Rio Paloma.

The sequel to Yellowstone has captured the soul of the franchise, with Dutton Ranch’s opening garnering the show a 100% score on Rotten Tomatoes. However, the roles in Dutton Ranch shift what Yellowstone established, as Beth and Rip step up in the ranching world, and audiences finally witness the couple running their own operation, with new Yellowstone characters emerging.

Yellowstone Replaces Rip With Chet And Azul In Dutton Ranch

Image via Paramount+

Rip is finally at the helm of his own operation in Dutton Ranch. That said, Rip has evolved from his role as a ranch foreman and John Dutton’s fixer to the head of a cattle ranch. Furthermore, managing his own business requires Rip to bring in a little help, and he has two ranch hands so far. Azul (J.R. Villarreal) and an old friend of Azul named Zachariah (Marc Menchaca) are working alongside Rip at Dutton Ranch, as Wheeler begins to assemble his own crew. It’s a far cry from the number of ranch hands that John Dutton had working for him at the Yellowstone Ranch. However, Azul has clearly taken over as a standout foreman.

Loyal and hardworking, Azul embodies some of the best qualities that Rip brought to the role as John Dutton’s right hand in Yellowstone. However, Rip is the one calling the shots this time. Moreover, Azul hasn’t displayed Rip Wheeler’s brutality in Yellowstone so far. Meanwhile, Chet (Hart Denton), now in charge of the bunkhouse at the 10-Petal Ranch, has.

Now managing the other ranch hands at Beulah Jackson’s (Annette Bening) 10-Petal Ranch after he witnesses Beulah’s son, Rob-Will (Jai Courtney), murder a cowboy named Wes (Nakoa DeCoite), Chet embodies Rip’s more unforgiving side. Also bound by loyalty, Chet beats two cowboys in Dutton Ranch Episode 2, sending one to the hospital after Jackson encourages him to embrace brutality. While one or the other doesn’t embody the duality that Rip has in Yellowstone, the combination of Azul and Chet fills Wheeler’s role. While the Yellowstone Ranch is no longer part of the story, Dutton Ranch has kept the culture alive with Beulah’s ranch and Beth and Rip’s operation, replacing John Dutton and each element of his world in Yellowstone.

Dutton Ranch Officially Changes Rip’s Yellowstone Role

Image via Paramount

While Wheeler once thought he would live on the Yellowstone Dutton Ranch forever, the events of Yellowstone’s series finale changed the game for Beth and Rip. After buying a ranch in Dillon, Beth and Rip officially became the stewards of their own land and owners of their own business, unbound by the limitations John Dutton had previously imposed.

After a tragic fire destroys their new home in Montana, Beth and Rip buy the Edwards Ranch, starting over in Texas and setting the stage for Dutton Ranch. In the first two episodes of Dutton Ranch, the Yellowstone power couple proves they’re more than capable of their endeavor, with Rip’s ranching experience and Beth’s finance degree proving a powerful combination. That said, Beth and Rip have always been skilled at what they do, but they can do more outside of John’s shadow. In that sense, Dutton Ranch evolves Yellowstone‘s characters by shifting their roles. Still, the spinoff feels true to form for Yellowstone, winning over audiences after the flagship’s other sequel, Marshals on CBS, failed to capture similar critical praise.

However, while Rip is no longer working for John Dutton, he’s still cleaning up messes on his and Beth’s new ranch. After Rip finds Wes’ body partially buried on their property, he hides it in a freezer. It keeps the couple separated from the cycle of violence that haunts them at Yellowstone Ranch for now, but could create problems later. Rip now relies on his own discretion, no longer confiding in John Dutton or carrying out his orders. Chet and Azul, the supervisors at Dutton Ranch‘s prominent outfits, instead maintain Rip’s unwavering loyalty, carrying on the formative quality of Hauser’s Yellowstone character. Still, while Chet and Azul are both bound by loyalty, Chet arguably shoulders a greater burden.