Paramount’s Yellowstone universe just added another heavyweight. Academy Award nominee Ed Harris has been cast in The Dutton Ranch, the new spinoff centered on Beth Dutton (Kelly Reilly) and Rip Wheeler (Cole Hauser). Harris will play Everett McKinney, described as “a weathered veteran and veterinarian who treats animals with compassion and understanding and has a good sense of humor.” His addition brings even more prestige to a cast that already includes Reilly, Hauser, Finn Little, and Annette Bening. The official logline for the series reads:

“Beth Dutton (Reilly) and Rip Wheeler (Hauser) are grateful for the peace they sought, fought, and nearly died for with their 7,000-acre Dutton Ranch. With tough times and stiff competition, Beth and Rip do what they must to survive, all while ensuring Carter (Little) becomes the man he’s supposed to be.”

This marks the latest TV role for Harris, who was a central figure in HBO’s Westworld throughout its four-season run, earning an Emmy nomination in 2018. He also delivered acclaimed performances in HBO’s Empire Falls and Game Change, projects that netted him Emmy and Golden Globe nods.

On the film side, Harris is one of Hollywood’s most respected actors. He has received four Academy Award nominations for Apollo 13, The Truman Show, Pollock, and The Hours. He made his directorial debut with Pollock, later directing, co-writing, and starring in the western Appaloosa.

The Dutton Ranch comes from showrunner and executive producer Chad Feehan, with Sheridan executive producing alongside David C. Glasser, John Linson, Art Linson, Ron Burkle, David Hutkin, Bob Yari, Michael Friedman, Christina Voros, Reilly, Hauser, and Keith Cox.

What Other Yellowstone Projects Are Coming Up?

For those keeping track, The Dutton Ranch joins a crowded Yellowstone slate. Prequels 1883 and 1923 have wrapped, but more new entries are on the way, including The Madison on Paramount+ (starring Michelle Pfeiffer) and Y: Marshals for CBS (with Luke Grimes leading as Kayce Dutton). Long-teased projects 1944 and 6666 are also still in development, too, so we’re not going to run out of stories from the Yeehaw gang.

The original incarnation of Yellowstone, co-created by Sheridan and John Linson, told the story of John Dutton III (Kevin Costner) and his family’s battle to keep control of the largest contiguous cattle ranch in the U.S. Reilly’s Beth and Hauser’s Rip quickly became fan favorites, their complicated romance anchoring much of the later seasons.

via Collider