Yellowstone Star Sets New FBI Crime Thriller Adaptation

Image via MovieStillsDB Published Nov 9, 2026, 1:07 PM EST Ryan Northrup is a Senior Staff Writer on ScreenRant's Movie & TV News team, where he has authored nearly 5,000 articles, including features and reviews. A graduate of McMaster University, Ryan began his career in public relations before attending Vancouver Film School. There, he built lasting industry connections and optioned a feature film screenplay. Sign in to your ScreenRant account Yellowstone's Cole Hauser has an exciting new project in the works. Hauser played fixer Rip Wheeler across all five seasons of Taylor Sheridan's hit neo-Western series, which came to an end in 2024. The actor has now reprised his role as the character in Dutton Ranch alongside Kelly Reilly as Beth Dutton, with the Paramount+ series confirmed to return for season 2. As Hauser's work in the Yellowstone universe continues, Deadline now reveals the actor is developing an FBI action thriller titled Pale Horse, based on retired agent Scott Payne's memoir, with Constantin Film. Code Name: Pale Horse by Payne and Michelle Shephard chronicles Payne's 28-year career as an undercover agent, revealing how he infiltrated some of the U.S.'s most violent movements. Payne's undercover work includes his time with Georgia neo-Nazi white supremacist group The Base, as well as his infiltration of the Outlaws Motorcycle Club, among others. The book explores how Payne survived in a world of criminal rivalries while under constant suspicion, as well as the impact his work had on him, his marriage, and his faith. Hauser will produce Pale Horse and could star in the film. Randall Batinkoff is writing the screenplay and producing, with Robert Kulzer of Constantin Film also holding a producer role. Executive producers include Payne and Constantin's Oliver Berben. Of the upcoming adaptation, Hauser said: “These are the type of stories that I am drawn to as a producer and as an actor. Scott Payne is a real-life hero, with the kind of moxie and edge you would need to risk your life to fight evil. I am looking forward to producing this movie and getting a chance to bring him and his story to life on the screen.” Kulzer also released a statement about Pale Horse, praising Payne's novel and his high-stakes work as an undercover FBI agent: “Code Name: Pale Horse is a revealing, terrifying and unbelievable true story of a single man who jeopardized everything to subvert one of the most dangerous neo-Nazi groups in the U.S. Dubbed ‘the Hillbilly Donnie Brasco,’ Scott Payne’s tough-as-nails account follows the triumphs, the setbacks and all of the moving parts of undercover operations. He’s truly an authentic hero and we cannot wait to bring this exciting and urgent story to life.” Though Hauser is best known for playing Rip in the Yellowstone universe, he is also a fairly regular presence in the world of movies. In recent years, Hauser has starred in straight-to-VOD films like Dead Man's Hand (2023), The Ritual Killer (2023), The Minute You Wake Up Dead (2023), and Panama (2022). His most notable movie efforts include Olympus Has Fallen and A Good Day to Die Hard, both from 2013. Pale Horse would seemingly mark Hauser's most notable leading role yet, and it could pave the way for a larger movie career outside of Dutton Ranch. The Yellowstone spinoff was a hit for Paramount+, chronicling Beth and Rip's attempts to survive on their ranch in South Texas. Dutton Ranch is one of two Yellowstone spinoffs currently going strong, with Marshals currently in the midst of season 2 on CBS. There's no word yet on who else might star in Pale Horse or when the film might release. As the project is in development, it could be quite some time before it gets the green light to go to camera. 2028 seems like the earliest the adaptation could arrive on screens. More to come...