Persistence really paid off.
Kurt Russell recently explained why he isn’t appearing as Preston Clyburn in the upcoming Yellowstone spin-off, The Madison, despite series creator Taylor Sheridan initially wanting him for the role.
“I was working on the second season of Apple TV’s ‘Monarch: Legacy of Monsters,’ and sadly the timing didn’t sync up when ‘Madison’ was set to come out,” Russell, who is 74, mentioned in an interview released on Wednesday.
“So I told them, ‘There’s no way I can do that,’ since I was committed to this other project,” he added.
However, Sheridan and Michelle Pfeiffer, who is one of the executive producers on the series, worked out a solution to fit Russell into their plans for Yellowstone.
“Michelle Pfeiffer and Taylor teamed up with Paramount+ and said, ‘Let’s go for two seasons rather than just one,'” he elaborated. “Then we can kick off with Kurt’s scenes before jumping into the second season next year.”
“They really wanted him to take on the character, and we figured out a way to fit it into his schedule before diving into the later episodes,” Russell continued. “And we managed to make that work.”
Scheduled to debut on Paramount+ on March 14, The Madison focuses on the Clyburn family, who make the move from New York City to the picturesque Madison River Valley in central Montana.
It’s been described as “a profound love story woven through a deeply personal family drama highlighting resilience and transformation,” and it’s said to be Sheridan’s “most intimate work to date.” The series features Russell and Pfeiffer as the married couple, Preston and Stacey Clyburn.
The supporting cast includes Will Arnett, Matthew Fox, Patrick J. Adams, and Beau Garrett.
“I truly appreciate ‘Madison.’ It’s a clever show,” Russell stated in his conversation with EW leading up to the launch. “Taylor’s an excellent writer — and, of course, Michelle is amazing.” He added, “For the awards, people will likely focus on Michelle’s performance.”
“They are all talented, but I believe Sheridan’s crafted something really compelling,” Pfeiffer remarked about her co-star, adding, “This project feels distinct for Taylor as it’s predominantly a female-driven narrative.”
Russell also shared his enthusiasm about the series, calling it “very well crafted” and expressing that he had a great time filming.
The first trailer dropped earlier this month, providing a sneak peek of Russell and Pfeiffer as Preston and Stacey Clyburn.
In one poignant scene, Pfeiffer, 67, tearfully exclaims, “My center, my soul, is gone.”
Meanwhile, Arnett, portraying therapist Phil Yorn, offers, “If you just surrender, you’ll get better.”
The teaser also shows Russell’s character kissing Pfeiffer’s and fishing in the Madison River with his brother Paul Clyburn, played by Fox.
“What do I have?” Russell contemplatively wonders in the narration. “Before I get too old to do more than just remember.”
