Kurt Russell Joins Yellowstone Spinoff The Madison As Series Regular

Kurt Russell’s Yellowstone franchise debut in The Madison has been officially confirmed. The Madison is an upcoming spinoff starring Michelle Pfeiffer, and Russell was rumored to be attached to the project months ago. The series is set to premiere in 2026, likely in the first half of the year.

Deadline reported that Kurt Russell is joining The Madison’s cast as a series regular. This is major news for the title, which has already been renewed by Paramount ahead of its first season. He joins Pfeiffer, as well as stars Matthew Fox, Elle Chapman, Patrick J. Adams, and more.

What Kurt Russell’s The Madison Casting Means

Before audiences get too excited about Kurt Russell’s casting, there’s a major detail that’s been left out of the report. As of right now, The Madison season 1 has already wrapped filming back in January and is in post-production, which means the series could be released rather soon.

This means that Kurt Russell is unlikely to appear in the first season, unless they decide to film additional scenes for him. His arrival will likely be in The Madison season 2, which is already in development and is set to begin filming this Fall, prior to season 1’s release.

Taylor Sheridan and Paramount+ are fairly secretive about their development plans, with numerous Yellowstone spinoffs in development, the franchise’s release timeline isn’t entirely clear. While I wouldn’t be surprised if Kurt Russell makes a brief cameo in season 1, it’s doubtful that he was secretly part of season 1’s filming.

Still, Kurt Russell’s role in The Madison season 2 will be a major attraction for the series, as he continues Sheridan’s streak of shows led by veteran movie stars. Kevin Costner, Harrison Ford, Billy Bob Thornton, and now Kurt Russell. That’s an excellent lineup.

Our Take On Kurt Russell’s The Madison Casting

This is great news, but it’s also strange news. Kurt Russell is perfect for the Yellowstone franchise. He’s a great actor, a proven Western star, and could be phenomenal with Taylor Sheridan’s dialogue. However, announcing his casting for the second season prior to season 1’s release is going to cause some confusion.

Especially given that Kurt Russell was rumored to be attached to The Madison to begin with, I’m concerned that his casting might overshadow what the series has to offer. Even with Michelle Pfeiffer in mind, Kurt Russell is the biggest name The Madison has now, and he’s not going to be in the show when audiences tune in.

Source: Deadline