Beth ran straight toward a wild wolf pack — and yes, those wolves were 100% real. What Kelly Reilly revealed about filming one of Yellowstone’s wildest scenes will leave you speechless…
It wasn’t CGI. It wasn’t fake. And it definitely wasn’t safe.
In one of Yellowstone‘s earliest and most unforgettable scenes, Beth Dutton charges at a pack of wolves feeding on a fresh kill — wild, fearless, and entirely unbothered by danger. But what most fans didn’t realize is that when cameras rolled… those wolves were real.
Kelly Reilly, who plays Beth, recently opened up about the moment in Season 1’s “Kill the Messenger,” and what she revealed adds an entirely new layer of insanity to the iconic moment. According to Reilly, she was genuinely nervous — not about playing Beth’s recklessness, but about the fact that she had to run full speed toward a group of trained wolves devouring raw meat on set.
When she voiced her concern to the crew, their reassurance didn’t exactly ease her nerves. “Don’t worry,” they said, “we’ve got these invisible cords. If the wolves run at you, they’ll trip.” That was it. Thin wires. And a whole lot of faith.
Still, Reilly went for it. The result? A jaw-dropping scene that not only helped define Beth’s character but also solidified the raw, untamed spirit of Yellowstone. Within the scene, Rip rushes to stop her — a moment that sparks the deep, complicated connection fans would come to obsess over.
Off-camera, no one — human or animal — was harmed. But the danger was very real.
And while that particular episode didn’t ignite controversy, Yellowstone has faced its share of heat for animal-related content. PETA once accused the show of slaughtering a cow for filming — a claim Paramount Network denied outright. Other scenes involving dogs and livestock sparked backlash from viewers, prompting actor Forrie J. Smith (Lloyd) to defend the series publicly, insisting no animals were harmed and praising creator Taylor Sheridan for his conscientious care on set.
Sheridan, who owns and uses his own livestock in production, has always pushed Yellowstone to the edge — and sometimes, right over it. But few scenes represent that high-risk, high-reward filmmaking like Beth’s standoff with the wolves.
No green screens. No shortcuts. Just raw meat, wild eyes… and a lead actress bold enough to step into the chaos.
Would you have run toward them too — or run the other way?