Stephen Amell Auditioned for the ‘Yellowstone’ Universe’s ‘Dutton Ranch’ as a Villain, and He Called It Before It Happened
Stephen Amell has spent years being known as television’s Green Arrow, but it turns out he nearly traded his bow for a Texas ranch feud. The actor recently revealed he auditioned for a key villain role on ‘Dutton Ranch,’ the ‘Yellowstone‘ spinoff following Beth and Rip, and the story behind his near miss is almost too fitting to be true.
Amell opened up about the experience during an appearance on the podcast Inside of You with Michael Rosenbaum, and fans of the ‘Yellowstone’ universe are only now catching up to what he shared.
Stephen Amell’s ‘Dutton Ranch’ Audition Story
According to Amell, he auditioned for the role of Rob-Will Jackson, described as the enforcer for the rival 10 Petal Ranch in ‘Dutton Ranch.’ He explained that after reading the character breakdown, he had an immediate gut reaction, saying he told people out loud that the role felt like it was written for Jai Courtney.
Despite that hesitation, Amell didn’t half heartedly approach the audition. He said he put together what he considered a genuinely strong tape and received good feedback from the people involved in casting. In the end though, Paramount ultimately decided to cast Jai Courtney in the part instead.
What makes the story stand out is Amell’s own prediction coming true. He had guessed the role was tailor made for Courtney before the casting was even announced, and he ended up being right. Amell has said he isn’t bitter about losing the part, largely because his own instincts told him from the start that he wasn’t the right fit for it.
Who Played Rob-Will Jackson in ‘Dutton Ranch’?
Jai Courtney ultimately landed the role that Amell tried out for, and it has become one of the more memorable parts of the new series. Courtney joined the main cast alongside Annette Bening and Ed Harris as ‘Dutton Ranch’ built out its ensemble beyond the returning Yellowstone characters.
The character has quickly made an impression on viewers. Rob-Will Jackson stands out as one of the most ruthless figures on the show, responsible for killing wrangler Wes Ayers and even attempting to have his own brother killed.
Courtney has spoken about what it takes to make a character like that work on screen. He told Men’s Journal that playing someone unlikable only succeeds if the actor is clearly having fun in the role, because otherwise audiences tend to disengage from the character entirely.
What ‘Dutton Ranch’ Is About
‘Dutton Ranch’ serves as the newest chapter in the ‘Yellowstone’ franchise, following Beth Dutton and Rip Wheeler as they attempt to start over far from Montana. Kelly Reilly and Cole Hauser reprise their roles from the flagship series, bringing a familiar dynamic into an entirely new setting.
The premise finds the couple gambling on a fresh start in South Texas, only to run into brutal new complications almost immediately.
The series follows Rip Wheeler and Beth Dutton as they try to build a future away from the ghosts of Yellowstone, only to collide with a rival ranch willing to do anything to protect its own empire.
The show has found solid footing critically since its debut. Rotten Tomatoes has the series holding an 89 percent approval rating based on more than three dozen critic reviews, while Metacritic has given it a score reflecting generally favorable reception among critics. That reception suggests the ‘Yellowstone’ universe still has plenty of life left in it, even in a brand new location.
Stephen Amell’s Next Project After Missing Out on ‘Dutton Ranch’
Amell may not be riding into the ‘Yellowstone’ universe just yet, but he isn’t sitting idle either. He is set to next appear on Fox’s Baywatch reboot series, sharing the screen with Jessica Belkin and Hassie Harrison. It’s a very different kind of project from a Texas ranch drama, but it keeps Amell firmly in the spotlight as he continues branching out from his ‘Arrow’ days.
Meanwhile, ‘Dutton Ranch’ itself is only getting started as a franchise entry. The series has already been renewed for a second season, with Benjamin Cavell stepping in as the new showrunner following creator Chad Feehan’s exit ahead of the premiere. Between the show’s freshly built rival ranch conflict and Amell’s now confirmed near involvement, there’s clearly more story left to mine in this corner of the ‘Yellowstone’ world.
Would you have wanted to see Stephen Amell go head to head with Beth Dutton as a ‘Dutton Ranch’ villain instead of Jai Courtney?
