Dutton Ranch feud ignites: Secret showdown revealed as 'California v Texas' rivalry gets dangerously physical

It's the breakout show drawing Yellowstone fans with the promise of more grit, glamor and drama.

But behind the scenes of Dutton Ranch, tensions are running high.

A rift appears to be growing between two of the Yellowstone sequel's biggest names: star Cole Hauser, who plays Rip Wheeler, and executive producer Taylor Sheridan. 

The Daily Mail has been told that the pair nearly came to blows – an alarming echo of the fistfight they had the second time they met.

Hauser hasn't helped matters by publicly criticizing Sheridan's absence from Dutton Ranch and voicing his frustration about filming in North Texas.

'Cole has had beef with Taylor for a while,' a source revealed.

'Taylor can be a harsh Texas guy. He is super straightforward and thinks fast, so he can come off as brutal, but he is just on top of his game, and he is brilliant. Cole is more casual, more surfer dude.'

The bad blood between Hauser and Sheridan dates back to before they first worked together on Yellowstone.

Hauser told Men's Journal in 2022 that he and Sheridan got into a physical fight the second time they met, but eventually became friends. Now it can be revealed that the pair have had another tussle since.

'When they were filming Yellowstone, they almost got into a fist fight,' said the source. 'They butted heads big time because they are so different. But then they were OK in the end, the dust-up was short-lived.'

The issues don't end there. 

In late 2023, the producer sued the actor over a trademark dispute involving the logos for their competing cowboy-themed coffee brands. Sheridan came out with Bosque Ranch coffee, while Hauser later debuted Free Rein, which allegedly featured a similar brand identity. The suit alleged trademark infringement, unfair competition and false advertising.

Eventually, they settled privately in 2024. But the awkward feelings remain.

'Cole is a super nice dude from Santa Barbara and Taylor is a very harsh but brilliant cowboy from Texas,' the source said. 'It's classic California versus Texas. Cole is more like a relaxed dude, and Taylor is more like "do your work and be grateful." It's oil and water.'

Hauser reportedly inflamed the situation when he griped that Sheridan was not around for season one of Dutton Ranch.

He told Page Six in July: 'It certainly was a challenge. It was about putting my head down and working my a** off with what I had around me.' 

Those comments did not go down with Sheridan.

'Whether Cole knew it or not, he was sounding an alarm that told the world that there were problems on Dutton Ranch, and that was not appreciated,' said the source. 

Sheridan has made changes, though. He replaced creator and show runner Chad Feehan with Benjamin Cavell of SEAL Team fame. He is expected to be in the writers' room for season two of the show, currently in the script phase.

Another Hauser complaint was about the show's location. Most of the filming was around Weatherford and Ferris in North Texas where the heat, Hauser claimed, made it difficult to maintain his character's physique.

'I was trying to keep weight on,' Hauser told People in June. 'I mean, I usually put on about 25 pounds [to play Rip], but it was hard to keep it on. I was sweating it out.'

The source admitted that the venues have caused issues. 

'It gets very hot, like over 100 degrees in the summer,' the insider said. 'People have gotten heatstroke and feel sick often, even needing breaks and ice packs. The location is also full of rattlesnakes which is extremely dangerous.'

The issues between Hauser and Sheridan might point to a larger problem. In some Hollywood circles there’s a belief Sheridan is unusually hard on actors due to lingering frustrations over his own acting career. One industry source speculated that he may even be 'envious' of Hauser.

'No actor really gets along with Taylor that well except for Billy Bob Thornton, but they put up with him because his shows are so good,' the source added.

'Taylor might sometimes be hard on actors because when he first came to Hollywood he tried to act and didn't get very far. That was stressful for him, it was a big bummer,' said a second Hollywood source.

'That is why Taylor turned to writing and directing. But he still acts as he pops up on his own shows like Yellowstone and Lioness.

'Cole on the other hand, he is a natural. His looks, his timing – he has an ease with the camera. And he plays a hero very well.

'I wouldn't doubt it if Taylor was jealous of Cole. Heck, even Cole's best friend Ben Affleck is jealous of him these days! Cole's Rip Wheeler is the coolest dude on TV,' added the Hollywood source.

Despite the tension, Sheridan always wins out in the end. 

'Cole has a lot of respect for Taylor, so he shuts up. He is extremely grateful that Taylor made him a star with Yellowstone and he now has a job with Dutton Ranch. He knows he owes Taylor a lot,' said a Hollywood source.

'Cole always struggled before Yellowstone, he never had a big paycheck until Yellowstone came along.'

Hauser's pre-Yellowstone hits were a small part in 1997's Good Will Hunting and roles in lesser-known films such as 2004's Paparazzi and 2013's Assassins Run.

'Cole knows better than to pipe up. He says sorry real fast. Taylor is the boss and he could get rid of Cole anytime. So Cole doesn't say c**p anymore,' said the first source.

'Taylor does not like putting up with actor c**p. He wants actors to stay in line. No diva s***, no changes to the script. He lets Billy Bob ad lib, but no one else. Billy Bob is amazing, he gets by with it, and he is a close friend of Taylor's, so he can add lines, but no one else can,' the source added.

Sheridan has removed big stars before, killing off Kevin Costner's Yellowstone character John Dutton.

'That was a big problem with Kevin Costner on Yellowstone because Kevin was always questioning Taylor's writing. Kevin also went off and made his Horizon movie. It was a mess, as everyone knows,' said the first source.

'But you can't really argue with Taylor because his writing is gold. He is the best writer on all his shows, and everyone knows it. Taylor is very tough, but his writing is dynamite.'

And season two of Dutton Ranch is just starting to shape up.

'It is in the writing process right now and shooting won't take place until early next year, so it's very early on,' the Hollywood source told the Daily Mail.

The plot is expected to follow Beth and Rip getting their son Carter back from the cartel. 'There will be a lot of action. There will also be a spotlight on Oreana's pregnancy,' the insider added.

The Daily Mail has contacted representatives for both Sheridan and Hauser for comment.