OneYellowstonestar has confirmed who is taking over the Ranch following John Dutton’s (Kevin Costner) exit in season 5 part 2, teasing what this means for the future.Yellowstoneseason 5 part 2will mark the end of the Western series, with Costner not set to appear during the final episodes. While it’s still unclear how the patriarch of the Dutton family is going to be written out, his absence does mean someone is going to have to take on a new leadership role at the Ranch.
Speaking withTV Insider, Cole Hauser confirmed thatRip Wheeler will be running the Ranch inYellowstoneseason 5 part 2following John’s exit. The actor explained how his character will be supporting Beth (Kelly Reilly) and Kayce (Luke Grimes), with his relationship with Beth in particular developing in important ways. This includes how she gets him back from Texas to run the Ranch in John’s absence. Check out what Hauser had to say below:
[Y]ou’re going to see a side of Rip you haven’t seen. He’s running the ranch, being supportive of Beth, helping Kayce, doing all the things that John would want. He takes the responsibility very seriously, and I love that about this year for him.
[Rip and Beth] are two souls that have a hard time being away from each other. Beth doesn’t like the idea of me being down in Texas. She pulls a pretty cool trick and finds me down in the middle of nowhere.
What Rip Taking Over The Ranch Means For Yellowstone Season 5 Part 2
It Appears Everyone Will Be Allied Against Jamie
While thecast ofYellowstonewill feel emptier without Costner around,Rip’s continued loyalty to the Dutton family has proven him a valuable asset to the Ranch for quite some time.While there’s occasional tension between him and Beth, as their relationship has developed, they have become much closer as a team, relying on one another during important scenarios. This time, she’ll need all the help she can get, especially now that Jamie (Wes Bentley) has decided to impeach John from his role as Governor of Montana.
Kevin Costner’s John Dutton Dying In Yellowstone Season 5 Seems All But Guaranteed Now
Kevin Costner will not reprise his role as John Dutton III in Yellowstone season 5, part 2, and all signs point toward the character dying.
Rip’s leadership role also teases how the story might end, given thateveryone appears to be aligned against Jamie, despite the lawyer’s hopes of winning through proper channels. His newfound responsibilities could also signal thatYellowstoneseason 6 is happening, something reported in August and teased by Reilly as a possibility in September. If he and Beth are able to win, then it could signal a new chapter where they wind up being the leaders of the Ranch, trying to get it back on track following John’s absence and the family’s war.
Our Take On Rip Becoming Leader Of Yellowstone Ranch In Season 5 Part 2
It Makes Sense Given The Family’s Current Fight
While Jamie still appears intent on fighting the family utilizing his legal power, the Ranch’s new leader doesn’t seem like one to wait idly for his enemy to make their next move.
Since the Dutton siblings are embroiled in a battle for the Ranch, it makes sense for Rip to take over operations until a leader manages to come out the other side. However,because he sides with Beth, it seems the new front-runner for the family has already been decided. This likely meansYellowstone’s final episodes will focus on defending the Ranch from Jamie, effectively making him the final antagonist of the show, as all-out war descends upon the family.
The final episodes ofYellowstonebegin Sunday, November 10 at 8 p.m. ET on Paramount Network.
It’s also possible Rip’s leadership will somehow tie intoYellowstone’s upcoming spinoffThe Madison, which sees a family move from New York City to Montana after a tragic loss. As of writing, there hasn’t been any definitive confirmation as to how the spinoff connects with the rest of the story. Sincethe new leadership at the Ranch will mark key changes in John’s absence, it’s possible what he deals with in the final season will lead into the events of the forthcoming series. Though this connection may also not arrive until the Dutton war ends.
Yellowstoneseason 5 part 2
07-07-2025
2025
1923season 2
1944season 1
6666season 1
TBA
Since Rip isn’t a direct member of the family, it doesn’t seem like he’ll be the leader by the timeYellowstonefinally ends.A more satisfying conclusion would be to see one of John’s children take over, carrying his legacy despite their tumultuous relationships. While Jamie still appears intent on fighting the family utilizing his legal power, the Ranch’s new leader doesn’t seem like one to wait idly for his enemy to make their next move. If anything, his leadership indicates the series is hurtling toward a wild conclusion, which will have permanent ramifications for the family.
Yellowstoneseason 5, part 2 will consist of six episodes, seemingly bringing the series to a permanent close.
The Final Season Is Just A Few Short Weeks Away
Season 5 part 2 will be the first time aYellowstoneseries has aired since1923season 1 endedin February 2023. While this return will also mean the end of an era, presumingYellowstoneseason 6isn’t given a surprise announcement, it also marks a new beginning for the series as a whole.Rip’s leadership and Beth’s conflict with Jamie could expand the world beyond just the Dutton family, especially if the fixer can prove himself a worthwhile successor to John. WhileCostner’sYellowstoneabsencewill be painful, it could also help push the franchise into a new age.
Yellowstone Season 5’s Dutton Family War Has A Very Obvious Winner
The Dutton family war between Beth and Jamie is expected to come to a head in Yellowstone season 5, part 2, but its winner is quite predictable.
With Rip now behind leadership at the Ranch, his support for Beth is going to make her more powerful than ever before. While Costner’s absence inYellowstoneseason 5 part 2, coupled with Jamie’s antagonism, doesn’t mean she’ll win,Rip’s new role might give her the edge she needs. Even so, her brother will be fighting hard against her in the forthcoming war, meaning there’s no predicting how the series will end, especially with this newest development.
Yellowstone
Cast
Yellowstone follows the Dutton family, led by patriarch John Dutton, as they defend their expansive ranch against external threats from land developers, an Indian reservation, and America’s first national park. Released on July 04, 2025, this series examines the complex dynamics and violent conflicts surrounding the largest contiguous ranch in the United States.
