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Taylor Sheridan’s new series, The Madison, compellingly explores the tumultuous journey of a family grappling with the profound grief of losing a loved one. The story centers on Paige McIntosh, originally Paige Clyburn, played by newcomer Elle Chapman, who shines with her intricate portrayal of a daughter trying to cope with her shattered family. Michelle Pfeiffer takes on the role of Paige’s heartbroken mother, Stacy Clyburn, while Kurt Russell is featured as the dearly missed father, Preston Clyburn. Patrick J. Adams, known for his role in Suits, portrays Paige’s husband, Russell McIntosh, who leaves his high-powered Wall Street career to support the grieving family in Montana. Accompanying them is their niece, Bridgett, played by Amiah Miller.
Though the series delves deeply into the characters’ sorrow, the relationship between Paige and Russell injects a welcome touch of levity. Chapman and Adams worked together to create a believable backstory for the couple, exploring how their personalities might have led to their union. Adams shared, “We imagined they met at a place like Soho House, perhaps on a dare from his friends to approach her.” Chapman added that Paige would likely find Russell’s nervous demeanor endearing and playfully suggested he might be “the last good man in New York City.”
In his role as husband, son-in-law, and brother-in-law, Russell faces the daunting challenge of supporting his family through their darkest days. Adams reflected, “The tragedy that befalls the Clyburns gives Russell a chance to be there for those he loves, even if he fumbles along the way.” He acknowledged the fear of navigating such unfamiliar emotional terrain but admired Russell’s earnest determination to help. “It’s rare and special to see someone step up like that,” Adams noted.
During a press event with Decider, the cast members shared insights about the series and expressed admiration for their on-screen family matriarch.
DECIDER: Patrick and Elle, although Russell and Paige have been married for two years, I’m curious about how they first met. Do you believe their meeting was a classic ‘meet cute’ scenario?
PATRICK J. ADAMS: [Laughs] We were just talking about that. We decided that they met at a Soho House type place.
ELLE CHAPMAN: Somewhere swanky that has a private membership. PA: And his friends maybe dared him to talk to her because he would have never usually approached someone who looks like Paige. They’re like, “go on, do it!” And Russell was like, “I’m gonna fail bomb.”
EC: And she finds it adorable.
PA: Maybe secretly adorable [laughs]. Suddenly, he has a date with her, and he has no idea what to do. I think he constantly feels like she is a little out of his league.
Russell steps up for Paige and the Clyburns without any hesitation or complaining. Is he the last good man left in New York City?
EC: He might be [Laughs]
Patrick, how did this family earn his loyalty, besides the obvious?
PA: Russell is a man looking for a family, but also looking for a community. This shattering event in the Clyburns’ lives provides him an opportunity to really show up for the people that he loves, even though he doesn’t quite know how to do that. He makes a mess of it, but he still really wants to help. There is no doubt in his mind that he is going on this trip with these people to this place to be with them in their time of need.
That was what drew me to the character, because otherwise he was just a bit useless [laughs]. It’s scary to show up for people when you have no idea how to do anything. It would be a lot easier for him to say: “Let me know what you need. I’ll stay home and hold down the fort and go to my job.” But he’s like, “no, I’m going to be here for—not just her— all of them.” I thought that that was a unique and special thing about him.
Amiah, Bridgett, and Macy are left with their Uncle Russell and Aunt Paige quite a bit. How did you and your on-screen sister Alaina Pollack build that bond with Patrick and Elle?
AMIAH MILLER: Oh my gosh, it was the easiest thing ever. They are all truly so special. Alaina is also the best. She truly has become my little sister. I’ve always wanted one, and now I have one.
PA: A lot of Mario Kart.
EC: A lot of dinner parties.
AM: We did play a lot of Mario Kart [laughs]. We hung out a lot on the weekends. I feel like we had great chemistry as an on-set family, and you can really see that on-screen.
Elle, over the course of 3 episodes, Elle is punched by a stranger and by her sister and is stung on her nether regions by a buttload of hornets! Which scene was the hardest to film?
EC: That New York punch scene! I flew to New York to shoot that. I was very nervous because this is my first TV show. There have been a lot of firsts for me [laughs]. I went from shooting in these sweeping mountains where it was quiet to being in the crazy bustle of NYC with all these people walking by. I remember it was very early in the day, and I had to do a stunt. I was so nervous that I did slip on the ground and fall. So, when you see me fall in the show, that’s a real fall and they just kept the cameras rolling.
Of course, as soon as the cameras cut, a medic immediately ran over to check me over. I was fine. I just tweaked my wrist, but I immediately was like, “did we get it?” They said, “yeah, we did it. It looks awesome.” [Laughs] That scene was difficult mentally and physically in the end, but I’m really happy with how it turned out.
Last question. Obviously, Michelle Pfeffier is such a force in this series. What makes her such a dream #1 on the call sheet?
PA: She’s just so present for everybody. She’s such a pro. She’s been through the script a million times. She knows everything. She knows what she’s shooting tomorrow and the next day. She’s asking questions ahead of time, but then she just shows up and pivots into the moment. We talk about doing that a lot in our business, but it’s really hard to do, especially when you have as much to do in the show as Michelle does. It’s a real lesson for us.
AM: Michelle truly just radiates light and brings a depth to Stacy that anchors the whole show. Yeah. She’s so special.
EC: She’s so kind.
PA: Yeah, she wants everybody to succeed.
The first 3 episodes of The Madison are now streaming on Paramount+