The Yellowstone cast and characters are the beating heart of the series, with each of them going on a journey over the show’s impressive five seasons.

Cole Hauser’s Rip Wheeler is one of the best characters in Yellowstone, and a testament to how the series is able to take these morally dark characters and make them incredibly endearing in the process. Despite Rip being an integral part of the show, things could have turned out a lot differently if Cole Hauser had played someone else.

Cole Hauser Was Originally Meant To Play One Of The Dutton Sons In Yellowstone

Though He Was Meant To Be A Dutton, He Gravitated Towards Rip Wheeler

Yellowstone largely revolves around John Dutton and the various other members of the Dutton family, including John’s sons, Lee, Jamie, and Kayce.

Prior to portraying Rip Wheeler, Cole Hauser would have played one of the Dutton sons, though which one he was going to be remains a mystery. In an interview with THR, Cole Hauser talked about what initially led him to have a role in Yellowstone and how he gravitated towards Rip Wheeler, instead of the original intent of him being a Dutton, stating:

Perhaps the most interesting aspect of Cole Hauser being drawn towards playing Rip is that he was able to collaborate with Taylor Sheridan to help flesh out the character in ways that likely weren’t even thought of when the pilot was written.

The collaboration worked, as Rip Wheeler is largely considered one of the best parts of Yellowstone, and Hauser’s performance is a major reason for that. Of course, Rip essentially functioned as an adopted son of John Dutton and eventually became his son-in-law, tying the character somewhat back to the original plan for Cole Hauser.

Without Hauser, Rip & Beth May Never Have Become Yellowstone’s Power Couple

Cole Hauser And Kelly Reilly’s Chemistry Was Undeniable

Rip and Beth’s ever-evolving relationship was a tremendous success for Yellowstone, and their popularity as characters (and as a couple) has led to a spinoff series about Rip and Beth, which will explore their lives after the events in Yellowstone.

Seeing the two of them embrace the love they had for each other throughout the series is incredibly satisfying, and it would have been a shame not to see that play out in the same way if Cole Hauser had played one of her brothers instead.

Rip Wheeler Was A Love Letter To The Dying Way Of Cowboy Life

Cole Hauser’s Performance Strengthens Rip’s Cowboy Lifestyle

Cole Hauser perfectly captures the idea of the cowboy through his performance as Rip Wheeler in Yellowstone, while diving under the surface to make him so much more.

His physical performance alone is remarkable, but the subtleties in his expressions and the way he carries himself make Rip an easy character to root for, even when he does morally awful things.

It’s possible that Rip wouldn’t have been as important a character if Cole Hauser hadn’t been drawn to playing him, and Yellowstone wouldn’t have been the same if that were the case.