When the end of Yellowstone was officially announced last year, Paramount
Network had set the wheels in motion for two more spinoffs. There was the prequel
series, to be set in 1944, and then the present-day continuation, set to take place
after the events of Yellowstone, which had the working title 2024. Now, that sequel series is very much beginning to take shape. That series will be titled The Madison and will star Michelle Pfeiffer, and it will be the next series to roll out in the Yellowstone universe. The Oscar-nominated movie star will also executive produce the new series from franchise boss Taylor Sheridan.The Madison is described as a heartfelt study of grief and human connection following a New York City family in the Madison River valley of central Montana. “Michelle Pfeiffer is a remarkable talent who imbues every role with emotional depth, authenticity and grace,” said Chris McCarthy, Paramount Global co-CEO and president/CEO, Showtime & MTV Entertainment Studios.
“She is the perfect anchor to the newest chapter of the Yellowstone universe, The Madison, from the brilliant mind of Taylor Sheridan.” Pfeiffer, a three-time Oscar nominee, Golden Globe Award winner and Emmy nominee, is the latest A-list star to join Sheridan for the Yellowstone-verse, following Harrison Ford and Helen Mirren leading Yellowstone prequel series 1923 (which is currently in production on its second and final season). Matthew McConaughey was initially in talks to star; however, a deal was never announced. When first announced, The Madison had been described as a sequel series that would take place after the events of Yellowstone, but that would continue to explore the Dutton family dynasty with new characters and locations, as well as some existing characters — which has sparked speculation about what other familiar faces will pop up.
Another spinoff, set in 1944, was also announced as a prequel series that will follow in the footsteps of 1883 and 1923. The Yellowstone flagship, meanwhile, launches its highly anticipated, long-delayed final episodes beginning Nov. 10. Yellowstone has become a pop culture and ratings phenomenon, ranking as the most popular drama series on TV. In 2022, the production took an extended hiatus in the middle of filming its fifth season, which turned into a delay that lasted over a year amid wrangling over the busy schedules of showrunner Sheridan and star Kevin Costner. After much speculation, Costner finally confirmed his exit from the series earlier this summer, saying, “It was a necessary decision to say, ‘Hey, OK, I don’t want to really talk about this anymore.
It’s time to move on.’” Viewers will have to wait and see how Sheridan handles the storyline around Costner’s formerly starring John Dutton when the final season airs. Pfeiffer, who famously rose to prominence in the cult classic Scarface, recently starred as Betty Ford in the Showtime anthology The First Lady and can next be seen on Oh. What. Fun! for Amazon. Her storied film credits include French Exit, mother!, Hairspray, White Oleander, What Lies Beneath, A Midsummer Night’s Dream, The Deep End of the Ocean, One Fine Day, Up Close & Personal, Dangerous Minds, Wolf, Batman Returns and The Witches of Eastwick. She is repped by CAA, Entertainment360, Hirsch Wallerstein and WKPR. The Madison is produced by MTV Entertainment Studios, 101 Studios and Bosque Ranch Productions. Along with Sheridan and Pfeiffer, David C. Glasser, John Linson, Art Linson, Ron Burkle, Bob Yari, David Hutkin, Christina Voros, Michael Friedman and Keith Cox executive produce.
