One Yellowstone star has confirmed who is taking over the Ranch following John Dutton’s (Kevin Costner) exit in season

5Ư part 2, teasing what this means for the future. Yellowstone season 5 part 2 will 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 with TV Insider, Cole Hauser confirmed that Rip Wheeler will be running the Ranch in Yellowstone season 5 part 2 following 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 the cast of Yellowstone will 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.

Rip’s leadership role also teases how the story might end, given that everyone appears to be aligned against Jamie, despite the lawyer’s hopes of winning through proper channels. His newfound responsibilities could also signal that Yellowstone season 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

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 means Yellowstone’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.