While Dutton Ranch is a direct extension of Yellowstone and it really is a continuation of Beth and Rip’s story, some things about it are a bit different. For example, Beth has evolved since the end of Yellowstone. That’s not a bad thing. In fact, it’s been fun to see a different side of her as the spinoff aired on the 2026 TV schedule. However, according to Kelly Reilly, her character changed partially because Taylor Sheridan was no longer writing her.
Unlike Yellowstone, where Taylor Sheridan is credited as a writer on every single episode, he’s only credited on Dutton Ranch as a writer because the show is based on characters he created. In an interview with THR, Reilly addressed how that’s changed things. Specifically opening up about what it was like to return to this character and not say words written by Sheridan, the actress explained:
