When Yellowstone ended abruptly following a fallout between Kevin Costner and creator Taylor Sheridan, Dutton Ranch was expected to take up the baton.

It was high stakes, but it paid off, with the first season proving such a success for Paramount+, that producers quickly set about work on a second.

But, like its predecessor, Dutton Ranch has not been without drama, with Ed Harris and Cole Hauser prompting whispers about life on set after going public with their issues.

And it doesn’t stop there.

‘Dutton Ranch is a mess of a show,’ one source told the Daily Mail.

‘There is high drama on that one, so much tension,’ added another.

Friction, we are told, has been brewing between some of the actors, sparking clashes over camera time, control and who is ‘top dog’ – none of which is helped by the somewhat grueling filming conditions.

‘I believe it’s the actors that are a huge part of the problem,’ said our first source. ‘Too many people think they are in control over there and that’s causing a lot of issues.’

Annette Bening, who plays Beulah Jackson, the owner of 10 Petal Ranch, is a big draw for viewers, but her star power has caused waves behind-the-scenes.

‘There is some drama among the major players,’ our second source said. ‘Everyone wants more screen time.

‘Annette has a powerful personality and wants control and screen time, and she wants many scenes with Kelly Reilly, who plays Beth Dutton, because Annette thinks they have great chemistry, which they do, she is right.’

They continued: ‘Annette usually gets her way as she is very clever and persuasive. She is savvy about how sets work and knows how to get what she wants. She is definitely a top dog on the show, people bow to her and are starstruck by her. She is the diva queen for sure.

‘But she also works hard and is a team player, which makes her more revered and gives her even more power. She is the s**t and I think some people are jealous of her.’

One of the stars who might appear to be jealous is Harris, 75, who plays her lover, veterinarian Everett McKinney. He recently complained that he wasn’t given enough screen time, calling his part ‘inconsequential’ despite being promised a major role.

Speaking to Variety, Harris described how after shooting several episodes, he told his agent to ‘get me the f*** out of here’ and even threatened to cancel his contract.

He also said he was upset that a scene in which he sang a tender song at a bar – something he had poured his heart into – was left on the cutting room floor.

James Eddie, who played Tommy on the show, sympathized with Harris, telling the Daily Mail he had heard ‘whispers’ that ‘there were some people that were upset.’

‘I didn’t know the whole story,’ Eddie said. ‘I still don’t. I mean, that’s just not my part. I wasn’t surprised when I heard it because… there wasn’t a lot of Everett leading up to certain points.

‘And when you’re an actor like Ed Harris, every actor wants 99.999 per cent of screen time. I’d imagine an actor at Ed’s level, I could see there being some frustration, but I don’t know the full story behind it.’

Thankfully for Harris, his pleas have been heard, with his character set for big things in season two.

‘Ed Harris will remain on the show and his role will get even bigger,’ said our second insider. ‘He is getting more time even though he p****d Taylor Sheridan off with his comments. But Taylor does what he says he is going to do; a promise is a promise. He will give Ed more screen time like he initially said. So, Ed can shut up now.

‘Ed made himself look like he has a really big ego, which he obviously does. He can be prickly. But he’s great on screen, so there’s that.’

As well as Harris, Hauser, who plays show lead Rip Wheeler, has also voiced his concerns in particular about the location, claiming it was so hot that he struggled to maintain his character’s ripped physique.

‘I was trying to keep weight on,’ he told People in June. ‘I mean, I usually put on about 25 pounds [to play Rip], but it was hard to keep it on. I was sweating it out.’

And Hauser, 51, reportedly isn’t the only person to take issue with the location, which is said to be a breeding ground for rattlesnakes, something he has opened up about before.

The show is filmed around Weatherford and Ferris in North Texas, not far from Fort Worth where Sheridan, 56, who co-created Yellowstone and Dutton Ranch, grew up.

‘There is an issue with the location,’ said our insider. ‘Filming takes place in North Texas where it gets very hot, like over 100 degrees in the summer, people have gotten heatstroke and feel sick often, even needing breaks and ice packs. So, it’s an issue.

‘The filming location is also full of rattlesnakes which is extremely dangerous, they have to do rattlesnake sweeps all the time and they have already killed hundreds for safety.

‘And there is also dust, poverty and crime, it’s a wicked place. There are no good restaurants, no fresh produce, it’s tough. All of the stars are complaining but creator Taylor Sheridan loves it there because he grew up in nearby Fort Worth. He thinks the location is perfect.’

Unlike season one, when he was an executive producer, Sheridan will be a presence in the writer’s room and on set for season two, a welcome relief for Hauser who said it was a ‘challenge’ without him being involved in day-to-day last season.

‘It certainly was a challenge. It was about putting my head down and working my ass off with what I had around me,’ he told PageSix.

‘Taylor will be on set more often, he wants to sink his teeth into Dutton Ranch more, he loves it,’ said our second source.

‘Some of Taylor’s old pals will also swing by the show, possibly Dawn Olivieri, who has already been in Taylor’s other shows 1883, Yellowstone, Lioness and The Madison. And James Jordan may also have a small role, he is a good friend of Taylor’s and has been in everything he works on, even Mayor Of Kingstown, Lioness and 1883, and his movies like Wind River. Everyone loves James, he is popular and brings a sense of joy on set.’

Season two is just starting to shape up with new showrunner Benjamin Cavell replacing Chad Feehan, who was let go before the first season aired.

‘Season two of the hit Yellowstone spinoff is in the writing process right now and shooting won’t take place until early next year, so it’s very early on,’ the second source told the Daily Mail.

The plot is expected to follow Beth and Rip getting their son Carter back from the cartel. ‘There will be a lot of action. There will also be a spotlight on Oreana’s pregnancy,’ the insider added.

Cast and crew will no doubt be hoping for a smooth ride on set, and thankfully for those involved there is a ‘peacemaker’ in Kelly Reilly, who was first seen in Yellowstone as tough-as-nails Beth Dutton.

‘She is very polite and kind, and wants to make sure everyone is happy,’ said our source. ‘She offers solutions and is a real pro, very smooth, very professional, no drama.’