A “Justified” alum is taking over the “Yellowstone” spinoff series.

Dutton Ranch hires new boss for season 2 after moving on from creator

A "Justified" alum is taking over the "Yellowstone" spinoff series.

By Derek Lawrence

Derek Lawrence

Derek Lawrence is a former associate editor at **. He left EW in 2022.

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June 30, 2026 2:13 p.m. ET

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Cole Hauser and Kelly Reilly on 'Dutton Ranch'. Credit:

Emerson Miller/Paramount+

- *Justified* alum Benjamin Cavell is the new showrunner for *Dutton Ranch*.

- The *Yellowstone* spinoff recently moved on from creator Chad Feehan.

- *Dutton Ranch*'s season 1 finale premieres this week.

*Dutton Ranch* has a new boss.

After the departure of creator and showrunner Chad Feehan ahead of the series premiere of the *Yellowstone* spinoff, *Justified* and *Homeland* alum Benjamin Cavell has been tapped as the showrunner for the recently announced season 2, ** can confirm.

Taking over the world of Beth (Kelly Reilly) and Rip (Cole Hauser) is a Paramount+ homecoming for Cavell, who previously created *SEAL Team* and *The Stand*. His other writing and producing credits include J*ustified*, *Homeland*, *Sneaky Pete*, and *Godfather of Harlem*.

Benjamin Cavell.

Last month, ahead of *Dutton Ranch*'s debut, news broke that Feehan would not return should there be a season 2. Sources told Puck, which first reported Feehan's exit, that the creator "clashed on set” with Hauser and Reilly, who are also executive producers on the project. Additionally, Puck insiders shared that* Yellowstone* mastermind and overseer Taylor Sheridan wasn't happy with Feehan's work on season 1. Feehan previously collaborated with Sheridan and Paramount on the David Oyelowo-led series *Lawmen: Bass Reeves*.

*Dutton Ranch* is the most anticipated show to arrive in the ever-expanding world of *Yellowstone*, given its focus on Hauser's Rip Wheeler and Reilly's Beth Dutton, whose relationship became the heart of the flagship series.

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Beth and Rip will keep riding: 'Dutton Ranch' renewed for season 2

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"Showrunners change all the time," Hauser recently said of the Feehan departure. "This business is about adapting. We've been doing this for a long time. Things change. People move on."

Reilly added that "we don't make those decisions."

"We finished [season 1] with Chad beautifully," she said. "It was a really difficult but really satisfying show to make ... We're all creative minds and we all work together and I'm so proud of that."

The season 1 finale of *Dutton Ranch* premieres Friday on Paramount+. A release date for season 2 has yet to be revealed.

*The Hollywood Reporter* first reported Cavell's hiring.

Original Article on Source

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