Kurt Russell Defends Taylor Sheridan’s The Madison as ‘Female-Gaze-Oriented’

Kurt Russell has spoken out in defense of Taylor Sheridan’s storytelling, describing the upcoming Paramount series The Madison as “female-gaze-oriented.” The veteran actor, who stars in the show, praised Sheridan’s work as “compelling” and highlighted the project’s focus on women’s perspectives.

In a recent interview with Entertainment Weekly, Russell said, “I think that it’s a very different show for Taylor in that it’s a very female-gaze-oriented show. And I think it’s extremely well written, it was fun to play. It was really fun to do. I just had a good time.”

A New Spin-Off from Yellowstone

The Madison is a modern-day spin-off of Sheridan’s hit franchise Yellowstone. The series follows the Clyburn family as they move from New York City to Montana after a tragedy. The cast includes Russell, Michelle Pfeiffer, Elle Chapman, Beau Garrett, Matthew Fox, Patrick J. Adams, and Will Arnett.

Russell praised Pfeiffer’s performance, suggesting awards buzz could follow. “He’s a really good writer — Taylor’s excellent, and Michelle’s great, and she’s really great in this show. Talking about awards — I think they’re going to be looking Michelle’s way,” he said.

Addressing Criticism of Sheridan’s Female Characters

Russell’s remarks arrive amid ongoing criticism of Sheridan’s portrayal of women across his series, including 1883, 1923, Mayor of Kingstown, and Landman. Critics have argued that Sheridan often relies on degrading tropes, portraying women as over-sexualized or one-dimensional.

Entertainment Weekly’s review of Landman bluntly stated, “Man, does this new Taylor Sheridan drama hate women.” Salon’s Kelly McClure added: “As a general rule, if there’s a woman on screen during Yellowstone, she’s either fighting, f***ing, crying, or yelling. I guess that’s the cowboy way?” Online forums have echoed similar complaints, with one popular Reddit post declaring, “I’m convinced Taylor Sheridan doesn’t like women.”

Defenses from Sheridan’s Collaborators

Despite the criticism, several actors have defended Sheridan’s approach. Ali Larter, who starred in Landman, told The Hollywood Reporter last year, “Nobody’s putting me in a position that I’m not comfortable being in. I love playing this character. If there was something I was uncomfortable with, I wouldn’t do it.” She added that Sheridan writes “women in their prime, that were still allowed to be alive.”

Kelly Reilly, known for her role as Beth Dutton in Yellowstone, also defended her character. “Women are always asked to play strong role model types, while men can play the gnarliest characters and get away with it,” she said, noting that her unapologetic and flawed character was initially met with heavy criticism.

Premiere Date and Sheridan’s Future

The Madison will premiere on March 14, 2026, on Paramount. The series marks one of Sheridan’s final projects under his current deal with Paramount before he transitions to NBCUniversal in 2029. Russell’s defense of Sheridan suggests that The Madison may attempt to reshape perceptions of the writer’s female characters, offering a more nuanced and female-centered narrative.