Yellowstone star Cole Hauser is looking forward to season two of the hit show’s spin-off Dutton Ranch.

The 51-year-old actor reprised his role as Rip Wheeler for the new series, which arrived on Paramount in May.

Last week, Hauser admitted there had been “challenges” for the new show, particularly the fact that creator Taylor Sheridan was not in the writers’ room.

Following the conclusion of the first season, showrunner Chad Feehan was replaced by a new head writer, Benjamin Cavell.

Speaking to People about the decision, Hauser said: “We have a wonderful new showrunner, Benjamin Cavell, and I’ve been talking to him. He’s a very special guy, and I think the future is bright — not only for myself, but Beth [Kelly Reilly] and Carter [Finn Little] and the show in general. I think this is going to be a really nice next step.”

Cavell is known for co-creating the Stephen King adaptation The Stand and has also worked on shows including Homeland, SEAL Team and The Institute.

Dutton Ranch was the first series in the Yellowstone universe not to be written by Sheridan, although he remained involved in the show as an executive producer.

“There were challenges, you know?” Hauser told Film Inside NYC earlier this month. “Not having Taylor there, for us to really kind of be able to work with these new writers, these new directors, these people... everything had changed.”

He added: “I enjoy a challenge – it certainly was a challenge. We worked our asses off this year. And I don’t think a lot of the outside noise or the thought of ‘what’s the weight of the show?’ was really apparent to me at the time.”

Speculation about potential behind-the-scenes drama on the spin-off show swirled after actor Ed Harris told Variety that he was unhappy with his role during the first season.

“Prior to signing on for it, I was talked to quite a bit about what the season was, and what my character was going to do – and that I was one of the four main characters,” Harris told the outlet, adding, “And that wasn’t really the case.”

“I said, ‘I’m feeling underused and inconsequential’,” he continued. “I was just a little frustrated, to tell you the truth.”

Despite Harris’s complaints, the Oscar-nominated actor will return for the second season, and he said his character will have “a little bit more to do.”

Season two of Dutton Ranch is set to begin filming in February.