Ed Harris Says He Felt “Misled” About His Role in Dutton Ranch and Even Wanted "The F**k Out" Midway Through Filming
It sounds like Ed Harris wasn't exactly thrilled with how things played out on Dutton Ranch. While the Yellowstone spinoff has been building its own fanbase since premiering earlier this year, Harris has now revealed that his experience making the series left him feeling frustrated enough that, at one point, he wanted out altogether.
Speaking with Variety, at the premiere of Apple TV+'s The Dink, Harris opened up about why he believes he was sold a very different version of the show than the one he ultimately ended up making.
According to Harris, he signed on believing Everett McKinney would be one of the central figures in the story, but that didn't end up matching reality.
“Prior to signing on for it, I was talked to quite a bit about what the season was, and what my character was going to do — and that I was one of the four main characters,” Harris said. “And that wasn’t really the case.”
The actor admitted the disappointment got to the point where, halfway through filming the first season, he was telling his representatives to "get me the f*ck out of here."
Harris also explained that he voiced his concerns during production, though he didn't identify series creator Taylor Sheridan by name.
“I said, ‘I’m feeling underused and inconsequential,’ and they kind of went, ‘Oh,'” Harris added. “I’m being told my character will have a little bit more to do [in Season 2]. I was just a little frustrated, to tell you the truth.”
Interestingly, Harris said his opinion softened once he actually watched the finished season. He felt Everett ended up carrying more weight in the overall story than it seemed while they were filming.
Even so, that didn't erase the frustration he experienced on set. One moment in particular still sticks with him. Harris recalled filming a sequence in which Everett is invited to sing in a bar, only to discover the entire performance had been removed from the final episode.
“So there’s this scene in there … I’m talking to [Beth Dutton] at the bar, and [Rip Wheeler] comes in and says, ‘OK, Everett, come on, it’s your turn,” Harris said. “I walk up to the mic, and they cut it. They cut the song out. I’m going, ‘F*ck you, people.'”
Production reportedly explained that the musical scene was removed because it was considered too upbeat for the darker ending of the episode. That explanation didn't sit well with Harris.
Harris remembered the production telling him they cut the moment because it was “too ‘up’ for the dark ending of that episode.” But Harris said, at the time, he felt like that was “enough reason to say I’m voiding my contract.”
Despite all of that, Harris remains attached to the series. He's signed on for two seasons, and while he admitted there was a point where he wanted to walk away, it isn't clear whether he has any intention of leaving now.
On Dutton Ranch, Harris plays Everett McKinney, a friendly veterinarian who crosses paths with Beth Dutton and Rip Wheeler after they leave Montana to establish a new ranch in South Texas.
The series stars Kelly Reilly as Beth and Cole Hauser as Rip, alongside Finn Little, Juan Pablo Raba, Jai Courtney, J.R. Villarreal, Marc Menchaca, Natalie Alyn Lind, and Annette Bening.
The show debuted on Paramount+ on May 15, and if Harris' comments are any indication, fans can expect Everett to have a larger role when Season 2 arrives.