Courtney exits yellowstone spin-off, embracing rural life after explosive finale
Jai Courtney, the scoundrel at the heart of Dutton Ranch, is trading Hollywood’s relentless pace for a decidedly quieter existence in upstate New York. The Australian actor, known for his roles in Suicide Squad and Jack Reacher, has opted to leave Los Angeles after a season one finale that saw his character, Rob-Will, brutally dispatched by his adopted brother.
A shift to the ‘country’
“I left Los Angeles after 13 years, because as I get a little older—and I’m a father now—I really value the time off between work,” Courtney explained over Zoom, his connection intermittently disrupted by a rural internet outage – a common occurrence in his new home, which he affectionately calls “the country.” “There’s no anxiety.”
From villain to reluctant hero
Rob-Will, a son of Texas rancher Beulah Jackson, quickly established himself as a morally ambiguous antagonist in Dutton Ranch, a stark contrast to the stoic Dutton heroes. Unlike the typical comic-book villain, Courtney portrays Rob-Will as a deeply flawed man grappling with addiction and a troubled past – “a product of his environment,” he admits. “Everyone in that world has some kind of skewed moral compass. 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.”
A brutal, unscripted finale
The finale itself was particularly visceral. Courtney describes the actual impact of the fatal shot as occurring “off-screen,” a deliberate tactic to heighten the surprise for the audience. “It was a surprise to me when I first heard about it,” he says. “But when you understand how it serves the drama, I’ve been around long enough to just trust these things and go with it.” The fight choreography, particularly a brutal clash with Rip (Cole Hauser) involving a car door, was largely unscripted, relying on the stunt team’s expertise. “It’s hard and fast, dude,” Courtney recounts. “These days on TV schedules, shit happens in the moment.”
Beyond the western
Despite his departure from Dutton Ranch, Courtney’s career trajectory remains firmly planted in action. He’s currently filming Blood on the Promontory, a gritty Western starring Sam Worthington, and is set to appear in the action comedy Protecting Jared alongside Jason Momoa and Andy Samberg.