“The Ranch” has found a temporary replacement for Danny Masterson.
Months after the actor was fired from the Netflix show following multiple accusations of sexual assault, Dax Shepard has been cast as a recurring guest star for the upcoming season.
Shepard will play Luke Matthews, “a former soldier who has come to Garrison with some history concerning the Iron River Ranch,” according to Netflix.
“He meets the Bennetts and forms an immediate bond with Colt (Ashton Kutcher) and Beau (Sam Elliott), but Luke’s past has a way of catching up with him.”
The role will reunite Shepard and Kutcher, who worked together on “Punk’d” in 2003.
Danny Masterson was written out of “The Ranch” amid multiple allegations of sexual assault.
(Greg Gayne/Netflix)
Five women have accused the Masterson of rape, including four who first made the allegations in March. He denied the claims and blasted Netflix for firing him.
“I am obviously very disappointed in Netflix’s decision to write my character off of ‘The Ranch.’ From day one, I have denied the outrageous allegations against me. Law enforcement investigated these claims more than 15 years ago and determined them to be without merit. I have never been charged with a crime, let alone convicted of one,” Masterson said in a statement obtained by the Daily News.
“In this country, you are presumed innocent until proven guilty. However, in the current climate, it seems as if you are presumed guilty the moment you are accused. I understand and look forward to clearing my name once and for all. In the meantime, I want to express my gratitude to the cast and crew that I’ve worked so closely with over the past three seasons. I wish them nothing but success. I am also so thankful to the fans that have supported me and continue to do so.”
