Yellowstone's Cole Hauser was to play 'other character' before he made Rip Wheeler demand

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Yellowstone stars Kelly Reilly and Cole Hauser recently sat down to discuss the final few episodes of the show as it approaches its end. Taylor Sheridan’s neo-Western drama is releasing the second part of its fifth season on Paramount Network this weekend, while UK fans will be able to catch up with it the following day on Paramount Plus. 

While Reilly and Hauser have become well-known for their iconic portrayal of Beth Dutton and Rip Wheeler respectively, it seems the latter may not have always been destined to play Rip. The pair recently revealed that casting could have gone in a different direction, had Hauser not been so passionate about the character’s potential. 

In a chat with Extra TV, Hauser admitted that he never actually auditioned for another character due to his belief that Rip was the right part for him - despite Sheridan initially having other plans for the actor. 

“It’s just that [he] was the only character I cared about,” he confirmed. “I think there was some opportunity to play Lee (Dutton) at one point, but I told Taylor and John Linson, ‘This is a character I love.’ 

“I was only in a couple of scenes, so they were confused by it at first, but I just thought, if there is growth with him… This is the one where I just feel like he’s starting down here and the ceiling is the stars for him.”

Cole Hauser could have played someone else on Yellowstone (Image: PARAMOUNT )

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At that point, Reilly chimed in to tell her co-star she “never knew” what had occurred, before branding it a “smart” decision. 

Rip is now a central character in Yellowstone, while John’s eldest child Lee Dutton, portrayed by Dave Annable, only has a very small role in the series overall. 

Elsewhere in the interview, the actors also addressed the romance between Beth and Rip and what the future might hold for them.

Asked if they would finally find happiness, Reilly pondered: “Happiness… I mean, happiness… 

“These are characters that, all they know to do is fight, right? So what is happiness to them? Is it lying down in their meadow and relaxing and not having to fight anyone? I don’t know. 

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“But there is the biggest fight on their hands right now and it’s coming to a crescendo,” she teased. 

“So I can’t give [away] what our last episode is for Beth and Rip. I wouldn’t want to spoil that.”

“That would definitely spoil it!” Hauser interjected with a laugh, before Reilly added: “But I’m hoping the audiences will go on the journey with it and understand what’s happening and why.”

Yellowstone Season 5, Part 2 is set to debut on Sunday, November 10 at 8pm ET on Paramount Network, while the premiere episode will also air on CBS at 10pm that same day. Uk fans can catch up with Yellowstone on Paramount+.

Yellowstone's Cole Hauser was to play 'other character' before he made Rip Wheeler demand

Yellowstone's Cole Hauser was to play 'other character' before he made Rip Wheeler demand

Yellowstone's Cole Hauser was to play 'other character' before he made Rip Wheeler demand

Yellowstone's Cole Hauser was to play 'other character' before he made Rip Wheeler demand

Yellowstone's Cole Hauser was to play 'other character' before he made Rip Wheeler demand