Courtney exits yellowstone spin-off, trading ranch life for rural retreat
Jai Courtney, known for his explosive roles in Suicide Squad and Jack Reacher, is trading the Wild West for a decidedly quieter existence. The Australian actor has swapped the sprawling Dutton Ranch for a secluded life in upstate New York, far removed from the pressures of Hollywood.
A break from the action
Courtney, 40, and his family have embraced a slower pace of life, complete with the occasional internet outage – a common occurrence in their rural locale. ‘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,’ he explained during a Zoom interview, speaking from his car as he searched for a signal. ‘It’s like vacationing from home,’ he quipped, ‘There’s no anxiety.’
Rob-will: a villain with depth
Courtney’s latest role as Rob-Will in Dutton Ranch offered a different kind of challenge. Unlike the stereotypical villain, Rob-Will – the son of Texas rancher Beulah Jackson – is a complex character grappling with addiction and a troubled past. ‘Everyone in that world has some kind of skewed moral compass,’ Courtney stated. ‘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 violent exit
Despite his nuanced portrayal, Courtney’s time as Rob-Will was tragically short. His character met a swift and brutal end in the season finale, shot by his adopted brother, Joaquin. ‘It was a surprise to me when I first heard about it,’ Courtney admitted. ‘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, a brutal clash with Rip Hauser, was particularly memorable – a hard, fast exchange culminating in a violent car door impact.
Beyond the western
Looking ahead, Courtney is eager to explore new territory. He’s currently filming Blood on the Promontory, a gritty action-thriller alongside Jason Momoa and Andy Samberg. ‘It’s just a total departure from this gritty western stuff that I’ve been playing a lot in,’ he said, hinting at a shift toward more varied roles. He’s also attached to Protecting Jared, promising a change of pace with comedic action in Hawaii.
A death scene that stood out
Reflecting on his career, Courtney noted that he’s amassed over 20 onscreen deaths. ‘This one was interesting because the actual blow happens off-screen, technically,’ he revealed. ‘It’s kind of like the surprise is on the audience.’ Despite the spectacle of other death scenes – including a helicopter rotor obliterating Boomerang in Suicide Squad – Courtney considers Rob-Will’s demise particularly effective, emphasizing the unexpected nature of the reveal. ‘You want it to feel fun and satisfy something that you perhaps haven’t seen or done before,’ he concluded. “It's a shame there isn’t more Rob-Will.”