Landman villain resurfaces in a surprising new role — and it’s heading straight to Beth and Rip’s world. A familiar face from Landman is stepping into very different territory.
Landman villain lands very different role in Yellowstone’s Beth and Rip spin-off
The Dutton Ranch, a spin-off of the hit Paramount+ series Yellowstone, has cast a star from Taylor Sheridan’s TV universe in a major role
A recognisable face from Taylor Sheridan’s television world has been cast in the Yellowstone spin-off, The Dutton Ranch.
The forthcoming sequel series will follow Beth Dutton ( Kelly Reilly ) and Rip Wheeler (Cole Hauser) as they navigate life after the tragic death of Beth’s father, ranch patriarch John Dutton ( Kevin Costner ).
According to casting news from Variety, actor JR Villarreal has signed on to portray a character called Azul.
He’s been described as “a whipcord wrangler as Rip’s high-hand man” and is set to feature prominently throughout the series.
Azul will assist Beth and Rip with the day-to-day running of the Yellowstone ranch, though he may find himself dealing with dangerous situations as fresh adversaries surface in the wake of the Dutton patriarch’s death, reports the Express.
Yellowstone wrangles Landman star for role in Beth and Rip spin-off(Image: PARAMOUNT)
However, Villarreal will be most familiar to viewers of Sheridan’s television output for his completely different role in the popular Paramount+ series Landman.
During the first season, he played Manuel, an oil rig worker who clashes with Tommy Norris ( Billy Bob Thornton ) after threatening his son, Cooper Norris (Jacob Lofland).
After Manuel’s cousin Elvio (Alejandro Akara) dies in a tragic accident, Cooper begins growing closer to his widow, Ariana Medina (Paulina Chavez).
Actor JR Villarreal has signed up for another Taylor Sheridan project(Image: GETTY)
Manuel becomes overly protective of Ariana, leading to tension with Cooper when he’s moved to his crew. When he oversteps the mark by tailing him home and landing him in hospital, Tommy hits back by ordering his gang to give him a savage beating, effectively ending his career and ensuring his arrest by the sheriff.
Since his disappearance from the screen, Manuel is presumably still locked up with little hope of getting out anytime soon after crossing swords with one of the oil industry’s most powerful figures.
Fortunately, actor Villarreal now has an opportunity for redemption playing the devoted right-hand man to Yellowstone favourite Rip.
He portrayed major antagonist Manuel in the first season of Landman(Image: PARAMOUNT)
The Dutton Ranch spin-off is expected to introduce an entirely fresh cast of ranch hands, bidding farewell to familiar faces such as Lloyd (Forrie J. Smith), Ryan (Ian Bohen) and Teeter (Jennifer Landon).
An official synopsis for the forthcoming sequel states: “Beth and Rip are grateful for the peace they sought, fought, and nearly died for with their 7,000-acre Dutton Ranch.
“With tough times and stiff competition, Beth and Rip do what they must to survive, all while ensuring Carter (Finn Little) becomes the man he’s supposed to be.”
Yellowstone and Landman can be streamed on Paramount+. The Dutton Ranch doesn’t yet have a confirmed release date.