'Dutton Ranch' showrunner Chad Feehan exits ahead of series premiere

Chad Feehan has stepped down as showrunner of Dutton Ranch, the upcoming Yellowstone spinoff, just weeks before the series is set to premiere on Paramount+, according to reports from Variety.

Feehan, who served as showrunner for the first season and is credited as creator of the series, will not return in the role should the show move forward with a second season. The series is part of the expanding television universe created by Taylor Sheridan, who developed the original Yellowstone franchise alongside John Linson.

The series follows fan-favourite characters Beth Dutton and Rip Wheeler, played by Kelly Reilly and Cole Hauser, as they attempt to build a new life after the events of Yellowstone. The story shifts the couple into a new setting where they face a rival ranch and escalating tensions in South Texas.

According to industry reporting, concerns from key creatives and producers, including Reilly, Hauser, Sheridan, and 101 Studios executive David Glasser, reportedly led to dissatisfaction with Feehan’s handling of production following Season 1.

The show is set to debut with its first two episodes on May 15, airing on both Paramount+ and Paramount Network, with weekly episodes following thereafter. The first season will consist of nine episodes.

The cast also includes Finn Little, Ed Harris, Annette Bening, and several other returning and new characters within the expanding Yellowstone universe.

Despite behind-the-scenes changes, the series is expected to remain a major flagship title within Paramount’s scripted lineup as the franchise continues to grow.