As if “Yellowstone” didn’t have enough off-screen drama, more is ahead. The show’s creator, Taylor Sheridan, has filed a lawsuit against one of the stars of the series, Cole Hauser. Fans know that Hauser plays one of the most beloved characters on the show, Rip Wheeler. Now, it looks like there is bad blood between Sheridan and Hauser after the creator opted to hit his star with a trademark infringement lawsuit.
Why is Taylor Sheridan suing Cole Hauser?
According to Esquire, Taylor Sheridan opted to file a lawsuit against Cole Hauser’s coffee company, Free Rein Coffee. The suit claims that the coffee’s logo looks too similar to the logo of Sheridan’s Bosque Ranch.
This behind-the-scenes drama is just the latest for “Yellowstone.” Recently, the show’s star, Kevin Costner, decided to leave the series behind due to a conflict with Sheridan. This led to the decision to cancel the series prematurely, leaving fans heartbroken.
It was later announced that the second half of Season 5 would be the last for “Yellowstone.” Sadly, with the Hollywood strikes holding up production, fans won’t see the final episodes until November 2024. They’re now hoping that Sheridan and Hauser’s latest beef won’t derail any other plans or take the character of Rip out of the final episodes.
Sheridan and Hauser have previously butted heads
Unfortunately, this isn’t the first time that Cole Hauser and Taylor Sheridan have butted heads. During a 2022 interview with Men’s Journal, Hauser revealed that he and the “Yellowstone” creator actually “got into a fight” during one of their very first meetings.
It’s unclear whether or not this trademark infringement lawsuit will impact Sheridan and Hauser’s working relationship. However, it does have the potential to add even more stress to the set, where things have been disrupted over the past few months.
What’s in store for Yellowstone in the future?
Although Taylor Sheridan is pulling the plug on “Yellowstone,” the franchise will continue. In addition to the show’s prequel “1923,” which is set to return for a second season, more is coming. It’s been confirmed that another prequel titled “1944” will also be made. In addition, a present-day series that is currently being dubbed “2024,” is also in the works. However, it’s unclear what that show may entail.
There have been rumors of a possible Rip and Beth spin-off as well. However, with working relationships up in the air, it seems that anything could happen in the “Yellowstone” universe.
Image Credits: YouTube, YouTube, Emerson Miller for Paramount Network.
