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“Yellowstone” was yesterday – now everything in rugged Montana revolves around Michelle Pfeiffer & Co.
“Yellowstone” fans know: Besides “John Dutton” Kevin Costner, only one person really wore the pants on his Montana ranch: his daughter Beth, brilliantly portrayed by Kelly Reilly. After the tragic end of the hit series, screenwriter and director Taylor Sheridan picks up right where he left off, now bringing even more female power to the Wild West.
Michelle Pfeiffer takes the reins
As a spin-off series of “Yellowstone,” “The Madison” (available on Paramount+ since March 14th) aims to thrill fans of intense clan stories set in the “Big Sky Country.” The fact that none other than Hollywood star Michelle Pfeiffer (67) is taking the reins is undoubtedly a coup.
Strong women instead of cowgirls
The story is certainly on par with “Yellowstone” in terms of drama, but the contrast between modern life in New York City, where the Clyburn family initially lives, and the Madison River Valley lends the plot a more contemporary feel. After all, Stacy Clyburn is anything but a cowgirl before she and her family move from the city that never sleeps to the remote countryside. A devastating tragedy turns the Clyburns’ lives upside down: Kurt Russell, who plays Michelle Pfeiffer’s husband, only makes a brief appearance as Preston Clyburn (apart from flashbacks). His sudden death leads Stacy and her family to Montana. And it is precisely here that the story of the matriarch begins, around whom a host of strong women gather: among them Beau Garrett and Elle Chapman, who play her daughters and bring even more emotion to the Western series.
Why Pfeiffer said “yes” to the streaming series
Taylor Sheldan, creator of not only “Yellowstone” in 2018 but also subsequent hits like “Landman,” “1883,” and “1923,” explains that his most personal series to date is “The Madison.” He intentionally conceived this spin-off project as a more intimate story than his previous Western dramas. Instead of grand power struggles, “The Madison” focuses more on “personal relationships and the emotional development of a family searching for new meaning after a tragedy.” And that’s precisely what convinced film star Michelle Pfeiffer to follow in Kevin Costner’s footsteps, so to speak, and, after cinematic hits like “Batman Returns,” “Mother!,” “Avengers: Endgame,” and many more, to enter the world of streaming.
“The most exciting roles are currently being played by women of my generation”
“When I started acting, your career was over by 40,” explains the 67-year-old, who portrays 62-year-old Stacy Clyburn, and encourages older women in the film and television industry: “A lot has happened since then – thanks in part to the many series, whether on TV or streaming. There are simply many more opportunities today, more choices – especially for women my age. And I think the most exciting roles are currently being played by women of my generation and older.”
With “The Madison,” Pfeiffer also wants to give the Wild West a new look: as a place where strong women finally tell their stories – in front of and behind the camera.
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