“Dutton Ranch” Star Kelly Reilly Explains Why A Piece Of Beth Dutton “Had To Die”
on Jul 14, 2026
Dutton Ranch debuted on May 15, with Kelly Reilly and Cole Hauser reprising their roles as Beth Dutton and Rip Wheeler. The first two episodes of the Yellowstone spin-off demolished ratings records, becoming the most-watched series premiere in Paramount+ history.
The momentum continued throughout the first season, which ended on a cliffhanger. Season 2 has been confirmed, but we don’t know when it will premiere.
One thing we do know is that Yellowstone creator Taylor Sheridan has voiced a desire to be more involved with Season 2 of Dutton Ranch. Sheridan served as an executive producer on Season 1, but wasn’t a writer.
“I think Taylor is going to be involved as far as some story ideas…which is great,” Kelly Reilly, who plays Beth Dutton, told The Hollywood Reporter.
Sheridan was heavily involved in writing Yellowstone and, therefore, in shaping Beth as a character. But his absence from the writers’ room during Season 1 of Dutton Ranch made Reilly suddenly “uncertain” about the character she’s played for years.
She explained her feelings, telling The Hollywood Reporter that she felt she had to lose a piece of Beth so she could start fresh.
“Beth, some of her venom and her strength and her power and anger; [Sheridan] wrote that for her…It was one of those beautiful collaborations and I was very uncertain of what this would be without his words.”
Reilly added, “I didn’t know if it was gonna work. I didn’t know if she was going to work. It was like a part of the character had to die in order for me to begin her again.”
It all worked out in the end, and Kelly Reilly is extremely proud of what everyone accomplished on Season 1 of Dutton Ranch. It’s extra validating that Sheridan wants to be more involved now, as it proves they “earned” another season.
“That’s the thing I’m most proud of,” Reilly remarked.
What Else Has Kelly Reilly Said About Season 2 Of Dutton Ranch?
During the same interview with The Hollywood Reporter, Kelly Reilly revealed that filming for Season 2 of Dutton Ranch should begin in “early 2027.“ But of course, they have to write the scripts first. Reilly said that the process should take place over the next six months.
When asked if the whole cast (who survived) intends to return for the next season, Reilly answered, “Who knows,” while her co-star, Cole Hauser, added, “Everything’s on the table, and that’s the great thing.”
If Reilly has it her way, she’d like to see a familiar face from Yellowstone reprise her role on Dutton Ranch. She’s been campaigning to bring back Jen Landon as the fan-favorite character Teeter.
Reilly recognizes that such decisions are out of her control. However, she has encouraged fans to make their voices heard about what they want to see in Season 2, whether it’s Teeter, another character, or an entirely new storyline.
“…if the fans want it, they should probably say so,” she told TV Insider.
Fans haven’t hesitated to follow her advice. After the news dropped that the series had been renewed for another season, tons of comments flooded in demanding more scenes between Beth and Rip on the show. So that’s at least one thing fans want to see more of whenever Season 2 begins!
What do you hope to see more (or less) of on Season 2 of Dutton Ranch? You can catch a thorough video recap of the first season below.
