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Sometimes in life, the road we think we’re destined for isn’t always the one that takes us to where we need to be. We all want to be the hero in our own stories, but more often than not, the best chapters come from unexpected detours. Ian Bohen, who’s made a name for himself as the lovable yet gritty cowboy Ryan inYellowstoneknows this firsthand.
If you ask him about the rocky path to the role that solidified his place in Taylor Sheridan’s universe, you’ll hear a story filled with both triumph and the humbling sting of “almost”.
But let’s not sugarcoat it: This isn’t just a story about an actor missing out on a role. No, this is about a passionate journey, a lesson in trusting your instincts, and a good ol’ fashioned reminder that timing is everything. Here’s the inside scoop on how Bohen almost snagged Wes Bentley’s iconic Jamie Dutton role.
Ian Bohen’s original audition: How he almost became Jamie Dutton in Yellowstone
Before he was known as the hard-working, straight-shooting cowboy Ryan onYellowstone, Ian Bohen was eyeing the role of Jamie Dutton (Wes Bentley), the ambitious and tortured son of John Dutton. And if you’ve ever watched the show, you know that Jamie’s character is deep, complex, and layered—a role that, when done right, grabs hold of your heart and doesn’t let go.
‘This isn’t a horror film but this scene gave me chills’: Taylor Sheridan’s Attention to Detail in His Best Movie Is Proof He Stopped Caring About ‘Yellowstone’
As Bohen recounted during his chat with Katee Sackhoff (viaYouTube), the road to landing the role of Jamie wasn’t a smooth one. It was filled with multiple tapes, adjustments, and endless revisions. After each submission, he felt himself getting closer and closer to capturing the character—each tweak bringing him a little nearer to a dream that seemed within his grasp. But then, in a twist of fate (and not the fun kind), he received the call that would change everything.
He recalled:
I think I get a call from Taylor and he’s like, ‘You’re just not Jamie,’ and at the time we didn’t know only Wes Bentley could play this role, it’s just him. But back then, when you haven’t seen anything, you just get this tremendous sinking feeling of like, ‘I’ve failed,’ yeah, and what has happened? I went down the wrong road, we get this far and it’s taken away.
A punch to the gut, right? ButTaylor Sheridan, being the visionary he is, didn’t leave Bohen hanging. Instead of a door slamming shut, he opened another one.
And then, in the next breath, he [Sheridan] says, ‘But I want you to work on this project with me, do you trust me?’ And I said, ‘Yes.’ ‘I want you to play Ryan.’ I said, ‘Who the f*** is Ryan?’ He’s like, ‘He’s one of the Cowboys. Just do you want to come and work together?’
And with those words, Bohen’s life was about to change. Sheridan offered him a role that wasn’t as flashy, wasn’t as loaded with dramatic intensity, but came with something more valuable: a chance to be part of something amazing.
Saying ‘yes’ to the Journey: Ian Bohen’s bold leap from Jamie Dutton to Ryan
What would you do? Chase the dream of playing the lead, or take a risk on something smaller, but perhaps even more fulfilling? Ian Bohen made the call that many might’ve hesitated to make: he said “yes”. During the same interview, he recalled:
And I said, ‘Yes’.
Now, here’s where things get real. No one wants to settle for a secondary role. But Bohen’s journey from Jamie Dutton to the rugged cowboy Ryan shows just how crucial it is to check your pride at the door sometimes. The former stated:
What are you going to say? No? No, it’s not big enough, the role is not enough for me, I deserve… Of course, you know, and I’ve had those moments in life. I’ve been an a**hole, so thankfully I put everything aside and was like, ‘I will walk with you.’You know, things as an actor are always precarious, and to turn down a job, especially of this scope with this kind of filmmaker, you really have to know what you’re doing or have a sense of it. So I thought, this is the next way.
And that’s where the magic of acting comes in. It wasn’t about getting the most screen time or the most emotional moments; it was about understanding how to contribute to a collective narrative.
“This isn’t Mission Impossible”: The Moment Yellowstone’s Story Got So Out of Control, It Seemed Like Taylor Sheridan Switched Genres
So maybe, just maybe, not getting Jamie Dutton was the best thing that ever happened to him. Because as it turns out, the road less traveled sometimes leads to the most rewarding places. And Ian Bohen? He’s certainly made the most of his detour.
Yellowstoneis currently streaming on Paramount+.
Siddhika Prajapati
Senior Journalist & Content Head
Articles Published :3309
With over 3,300 articles carved into the digital walls of FandomWire, Siddhika Prajapati excels at creating, curating, and elevating engaging stories. She takes pride in giving these stories a home and, of course, she’s got a Google Knowledge Panel to prove it!Whether it’s reviewing the latest drop on Netflix, Amazon Prime, or Apple TV+, or analyzing the cultural echoes of a streaming hit on Paramount+ or Max, Siddhika is always writing three steps ahead of the discourse.
