Dax Shepard Heads To Netflix's 'The Ranch' After Danny Masterson's Firing

Dax Shepard is hopping onboard Netflix's multi-cam comedy series The Ranch, months after actor Danny Masterson was fired from the sitcom. 

Deadline reported Shepard will be a recurring guest star on The Ranch. However, the outlet explained the comedian is not a replacement for Masterson.

After all, Shepard had just landed a lead role on Fox's pilot Bless This Mess. In The Ranch, he will play Luke Matthews on the half of the 10 episodes left of the third season of the show. His former soldier character would be coming to Garrison and then be friends with Colt, played by Ashton Kutcher, and his dad, played by Sam Elliott.

Even as he was projected as a guest star, Shepard would be essential in filling up the void left by Masterson's departure from The Ranch. The latter played the role of Rooster, Colt's brother.

Interestingly though, this is not the first time Shepard and Kutcher get to work on a project together. So is the case with the 40-year-old husband of Mila Kunis and Masterson who were costars in That '70s Show.

Shepard and Kutcher previously teamed up on Punk'd, aired on MTV, where they get to pull pranks on people. The No Strings Attached actor took to his social media account to share the great news that they would again be working together.

"Reunited with an old buddy. #punkd #theranchnetflix," Kutcher said.

Masterson's Exit

As for Masterson, his name had always been the talk of the town when it comes to sexual assault as it was heard on the grapevine that he raped four women years ago. But just last year, when a wave of women launched their tirades against film mogul Harvey Weinstein, Masterson had to be released by Netflix and the people behind The Ranch.

"I am obviously very disappointed in Netflix's decision to write my character off of The Ranch," Masterson said, and insisted he was not convicted of anything.

Obviously, the accused did not take this breakup lightly. However, he will still appear in some episodes which were already filmed prior his firing in December. Masterson vehemently denied the allegations thrown at him.

Netflix's move against Masterson was probably an answer to the public outcry, which was to outright remove the actor from the show, citing the horrid allegations against him. This was fairly not a new item, when one considers the company's actions against House of Cards star Kevin Spacey.