Taylor Sheridan’s new Paramount+ series Dutton Ranch won’t just be the latest installment of the Yellowstone franchise. It will also feature a crossover from Sheridan's new flagship series, Landman.
Not many franchise creators could pull off the trick of casting an actor in two different roles across multiple shows in successive TV seasons, but the master of modern small-screen Westerns is in a league of his own. His latest Yellowstone followup is recasting the figure responsible for some of Landman season 1’s best moments as a whole new character.
It’s important to note that Dutton Ranch was actually created by Chad Feehan, based on the story of Taylor Sheridan’s first TV series. Sheridan’s involvement in this new show is limited to a supervising role, as one of 13 executive producers.
Nevertheless, he’s undoubtedly played a key part in the recruitment of a standout Landman actor to the cast of this Yellowstone spinoff. J. R. Villarreal will play Azul in Dutton Ranch, when its first season debuts on May 19. Although we don’t have many details about Villarreal’s new character at this stage, he’s clearly pivotal to the show.
Taylor Sheridan's Dutton Ranch Features Landman Actor J. R. Villarreal
Yellowstone’s latest followup series Dutton Ranch has quite possibly the best cast in the franchise, with lead actors Kelly Reilly and Cole Hauser joined by an assortment of Hollywood royalty and Western genre specialists. Annette Bening and Ed Harris are the highest-profile cast members, but neither of them is the name that jumps out to fans of Taylor Sheridan’s Landman.
J. R. Villarreal starred as well-driller Manuel Lopez in the first season of Paramount+’s hit drama about work in the oilfields of Texas. Now he’s back in another Western series originated by Sheridan, playing a brand-new character based in the same American state. Villarreal is now portraying Rip Wheeler’s chief lieutenant on the titular farm in Dutton Ranch.
According to the brief description released by Paramount+, Villarreal’s character Azul is “a whipcord wrangler, and a guy who becomes Rip’s right-hand man in Texas.” We can expect to see the actor handling plenty of horses during the course of the show, then, while serving as Rip’s most loyal subordinate.
This role stands in stark contrast to Manuel’s sharp clashes with Cooper Norris in Landman season 1. On the other hand we’re likely to see Azul act as an enforcer who’s happy to carry out Rip’s dirty work, even if it involves violent confrontations.
Landman And Dutton Ranch Share Other Key Similarities
Landman has long been touted as Yellowstone’s perfect replacement, so it’s no surprise that the show actually replacing Taylor Sheridan’s most popular TV Western shares several key similarities with the Billy Bob Thornton drama. Besides the fact that they both feature J. R. Villarreal, Dutton Ranch and Landman are set just 200 miles apart.
The Yellowstone spinoff is supposedly based in southern Texas, but has primarily been filmed in Ferris, just south of Dallas. Meanwhile, Landman is set in the oil-rich Permian Basin of West Texas. In addition, both shows focus on dysfunctional families with a patriarch trying to make a living from one of the Lone Star State’s main industries.
We should expect Finn Little’s Carter, the adopted son of Rip Wheeler and Beth Dutton, to serve as the show’s young upstart looking to prove himself, much like Cooper Norris in Landman. As with Cooper, Finn will also be at the center of the most compelling love story in his series.
Dutton Ranch's Landman Connections Could Help Make It Yellowstone's Most Successful Spinoff
Given the spectacular streaming success that Landman has been for Taylor Sheridan, it’s no bad thing that Dutton Ranch has things in common with the series. If it really does end up being Yellowstone’s best spinoff, there’s every chance the show appeals to the same audience that’s propelled Billy Bob Thornton to the height of his popularity.
J. R. Villarreal’s supporting role alongside two of Yellowstone’s most outstanding actors might not make the headlines, but it’s a critical link that binds two central components of Sheridan’s TV universe going forward. Dutton Ranch has a lot going for it, but its Landman connections could be crucial to the series fulfilling its potential to be a TV Western megahit.
Taylor Sheridan Exit Addressed By Landman Star
Landman season 2 has officially come to a close, and with season 3 on the horizon, Jacob Lofland reflects on the show and its future, including Taylor Sheridan's upcoming departure.
Although Sheridan will soon be leaving Paramount, he will still be around for Landman season 3. However, if the show gets renewed after its third installment, there will be a noticeable shift as the creator is leaving Paramount when his contract ends in 2028 and joins NBCUniversal in 2029.
His decision to leave has driven a wedge between both critics and audiences. While many support his new endeavors and are excited to see what he does next, others were worried about their favorite shows losing the person who created and nurtured them.
In an interview with ScreenRant's Grant Hermanns for the Landman season 2 finale, Lofland, who portrays Cooper in the Paramount+ series, offered his own input regarding Sheridan's departure. The actor said that he was sad to see him go, and it's something that he tries not to think about.
However, he has faith in the creative team behind the hit drama series, such as Christian Wallace (co-creator and executive producer), who will most likely be staying on board after Landman season 3. Lofland said that Sheridan's departure and reasons for leaving were none of his business, so he wasn't going to get involved:
Yeah, I try not to think about it. No, I mean, I trust everyone there. We'll just see what happens. And I don't know, that's not my business, so I try to stay out of it. That's between them.
Sheridan first confirmed that he was leaving Paramount for NBCUniversal in October 2025. The creator struck a five-year deal with the latter for film, television, and streaming. The contract will go into effect on January 1, 2029. His longtime business partner, David Glasser, will also leave for NBCUniversal, bringing 101 Studios with him under a first-look film and TV deal after the company completes its remaining projects with Paramount.
Sheridan has also delivered many successful TV shows for Paramount during his time with the studio. Beginning with Yellowstone, he continued to put out high-performing series that have ranked among Paramount+’s most-watched titles. He also played a significant role in attracting and retaining new subscribers for the streaming platform.
Landman seasons 1 and 2 can be streamed on Paramount+.
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