Jai Courtney Wears the Villain Well on Dutton Ranch: The Australian Actor Behind the Yellowstone Spin-Off’s Latest Antagonist Opens Up

The Australian actor behind the Yellowstone spin-off’s latest antagonist, Rob-Will, knows why there’s so much more freedom in breaking bad. Jai Courtney has carved out a career playing complex, often morally ambiguous characters, and his role as Rob-Will Jackson in Dutton Ranch is no exception. In a new interview, Courtney reflects on his experience playing the volatile son of Beulah Jackson and what it means to embrace the darker side of a character.

Playing the Villain: Courtney’s “Bread and Butter”

Courtney describes Rob-Will as “my kind of bread and butter.” Following roles as a rugged warrior in Spartacus: Blood and Sand and a musclebound mini-boss who fights Tom Cruise in Jack Reacher, Courtney went on to star in both Suicide Squad films as Captain Boomerang — a sarcastic and crude ex-con who backstabs his fellow teammates. But unlike the comic-book villain, Rob-Will has a little more depth to him. He’s a struggling addict, a remorseful father, and, according to Courtney, “a product of his environment.”

“Everyone in that world has some kind of skewed moral compass,” he tells Esquire about playing the villain. “They’re flawed for sure, and who isn’t? But there’s so much fun to be had when you’re accepting of that because you can be unapologetic. We get to explore the sides of ourselves, and sides of our shadow, that are harder for the heroes to grapple with.”

Rob-Will’s Tragic End and Courtney’s Reaction

Sadly, the Dutton Ranch finale also marks Courtney’s final moments as Rob-Will. After escalating a conflict between his mother, the Dutton Ranch, and his family’s illegal Mexican cattle operation, Rob-Will is shot dead by his adopted brother, Joaquin (played by Narcos’ Juan Pablo Raba).

“It was a surprise to me when I first heard about it,” Courtney says about his character’s death. “But when you understand how it serves the drama, I’ve been around long enough to just trust these things and go with it. I was bummed to peel out, because I was having such a good time making the show, but also, I’m no stranger to being here for a good time.”

The Brutal Fight Scenes and On-Set Challenges

There’s some great fight choreography in the beginning of this finale too. Your character goes toe to toe with Rip, and Hauser slams you into a car door.

“It’s hard and fast, dude. These days on TV schedules, shit happens in the moment. Our stunt team obviously have us covered, but damn, we didn’t have any rehearsal time or anything. I remember that morning out there, you just had to go into it. But it’s a good, brutal fight. I mean, obviously I come out second best, which tends to be a theme in this show.”

Courtney’s Next Projects

What’s next for you after Dutton Ranch?

“I just wrapped a film I’m really excited about called Blood on the Promontory. It’s one of the best scripts I’ve ever read. A young writer, Evan Cooper, wrote it. It stars Sam Worthington, Lamonica Garrett, Jaeden Martell, and Jack Quaid. We play five convicts who are chained together and have escaped a botched train robbery in Wyoming Territory in 1871. It’s super hard-boiled.”

“Then I have Protecting Jared, which I did out in Hawaii with Jason Momoa and Andy Samberg. It’s just a total departure from this gritty western stuff that I’ve been playing a lot in. Got to go and get my aloha on and make some action comedy for a change, which was a nice shift.”

Meeting Taylor Sheridan and Future Collaborations

Did you meet up with Taylor Sheridan while filming?

“He wasn’t around too much. He left it in the hands of [former showrunner] Chad [Feehan] and a few of the other producers. But obviously I’m a huge fan. What’s he writing now, Call of Duty?”

“And with Peter Berg directing — who you worked with on American Primeval.”

“So sick. Maybe I’ll get a call up for that one, mate. Who knows? Maybe I can go back-to-back.”

Courtney’s Take on Playing Villains

Is it hard to always play the villain?

“I have to be able to believe that their motivations are true and at least that they have some kind of authenticity. I have to find a level of understanding with it so that it feels real. Even Rob-Will, he’s menacing in some ways, but he’s also dealing with forces around him that are out of his control. He’s justified in some ways.”

Plus, the show humanized him a bit when he talks to his daughter, Oreana [Natalie Alyn Lind], right before he dies.

“Yeah, and I don’t think people wake up and choose to do bad shit. For him, it’s about protecting this legacy. And if he could undo some of the mistakes of the past, maybe he would’ve been a better influence on her. Maybe he would’ve done things differently. But he was trying.”

Jai Courtney’s portrayal of Rob-Will Jackson has left a lasting impression on Dutton Ranch fans. His ability to bring depth and complexity to a villainous role has made the character one of the most memorable antagonists in the Yellowstone universe. As Courtney moves on to new projects, his time on the ranch will be remembered as a standout performance in a series full of larger-than-life characters.