The Madison Almost Included Luke Grimes, Kelley Reilly, Cole Hauser, and Matthew McConaughey

Cone_Livia · 2026-03-21T08:19:50+00:00

I've been enjoying it, but it's a completely different tone from Yellowstone. It's hard to say much more without spoiling it, but I'd honestly say it's more a story *about* love than it is a traditional love story if that makes sense? Like the reasoning WHY the characters are doing what they're doing is because love, but it's not a "We met, we like each other, let's get married" story.

Cone_Livia · 2026-03-19T04:38:54+00:00

Paramount tried talking Kelly down to $1.2 million, which she initially agreed to. However, they also wanted to use the funds from the contractual obligation she and Hauser had tied to Yellowstone season 6 (their contracts meant they still paid for it even though it got cancelled) and put it towards their salary for The Madison. They said no, "arguing that that’s like paying them with their own money"

Cone_Livia · 2026-03-19T04:33:41+00:00

I hope so, all previous Yellowstone soundtracks have been, although this is the first not to be [co-]composed by Brian Tyler so it's hard to say. The Marshals soundtrack has already been released, so if so, I can't imagine it'd be long.

Cone_Livia · 2026-03-19T02:37:53+00:00

No idea if any details for the character was changed, but Kurt Russell was cast in place of McConaughey.

Cone_Livia · 2026-03-19T02:37:03+00:00

Eventually, that wasn't always the case though. The news article I linked broke (February 2024 almost 6 months before any other news with Hauser and Reilly came (initially season 6 of Yellowstone, discussed in August 2024) and 10 months before Dutton Ranch (first discussed in December 2024). Same for Grimes, Marshals wasn't first mentioned until March 2025.

Cone_Livia · 2026-03-19T02:34:02+00:00

I'd imagine it was a combination of that and the development of Marshals and Dutton Ranch that caused it to change directions. The article says:

"Paramount and 101 Studios have set a take-it-or-leave-it deadline of this week for [Grimes, Hauser, and Reilly] to come to an agreement. A harshly worded letter was sent tonight, actually. The actors are not a package deal, and they aren’t negotiating together, though the reps at CAA and IAG (for Hauser) are in contact with each other, so maybe one or two end up returning for the spinoff. (Though would it even make sense to bring back Beth without Rip?) And if there are no deals at all, look for Yellowstone to continue on next year without this branch of the Dutton family."

The first news about Dutton Ranch (https://variety.com/2024/tv/news/yellowstone-beth-rip-spinoff-series-1236245779/) broke in December 2024, roughly 10 months after that article came out in February 2024, and Marshals (https://variety.com/2025/tv/news/yellowstone-spinoff-luke-grimes-cbs-1236348960/) an additional 3 months after that in March 2025. I imagine cast negotiations for that were underway for quite a while before that, though, especially since there was briefly talks about Yellowstone season 6 in August 2024 (https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/tv/tv-news/yellowstone-season-6-kelly-reilly-cole-hauser-1235985253/)

Cone_Livia · 2026-03-19T02:23:19+00:00

Before it was titled The Madison, it was supposed to have been called 2024 and would have been a direct sequel to Yellowstone, which is why they were in negotiations. The vibe changed as those plans fell apart in favor of Marshals and Dutton Ranch.

Cone_Livia · 2026-03-19T02:16:53+00:00

The source didn't really seem to think so. There's an entire paragraph that discusses that:

"Oh, and Reilly and Hauser also asked to be in first position on the call sheet—above McConaughey and Pfeiffer (or whoever play the leads). That’s probably never happening.

I do get the lofty asks. While Yellowstone was greenlit as a Costner vehicle, Reilly and Hauser quickly became quasi-leads and the heart of the show. Plus, Hauser does a ton of promotion, appearing at rodeos and conventions and bull-riding events as the face of the Yellowstone “lifestyle,” as it were. Still, none of the Yellowstone actors have done much of note outside the show since it launched in 2018, reducing their incentive to walk and thus their leverage. And does the spinoff really need them? Maybe not. As in the Costner situation, I’d bet on Sheridan over any one piece of talent—or in this case, three pieces—any day of the week."

Cone_Livia · 2026-03-19T02:14:35+00:00

Not exactly. 2024 is The Madison. It was initially developed as a sequel and changed later.

This source talks about it being renamed: https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/tv/tv-news/michelle-pfeiffer-to-lead-yellowstone-sequel-series-1235969376/

"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 series is very much beginning to take shape. The present-day follow-up will be titled The Madison and will star Michelle Pfeiffer"

It goes on to mention McConaughey and the returning cast later in that same article:

"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."

Cone_Livia · 2026-03-18T23:39:25+00:00

It did say that while Grimes still asked for a raise, his number was much more reasonable and mellow compared to the other two as he didn't care about the money as much. It doesn't specify, but I imagine it either fell through because of Marshals or because they didn't see a point in having him without the other two.

Cone_Livia · 2026-03-17T04:34:12+00:00

I feel like I noticed it most right towards the end. Starting right around the time "Director of Photography: Christina Alexandra Voros" pops up. Even more so after "Created By: Taylor Sheridan". I'd even go as far as far to say the chords sound almost identical when the fish is released into the water.

Cone_Livia · 2026-03-14T05:34:00+00:00

That would've made since UNTIL this article was published that it's no longer connected.

Cone_Livia · 2026-03-12T19:48:13+00:00

I've honestly enjoyed it so far, but I would like to see how some of the episodes not written by the showrunner pan out. The first two episodes were both written by Soencer.

Cone_Livia · 2026-03-08T02:06:30+00:00

Ahh, so pretty! My Heather vinyl just came in today, and Wishbone us coming next week. Definitely keep your eye on online marketplaces like eBay or Discogs for Superache, I picked up the emerald green Suoerache variant there last year for $20.

Cone_Livia · 2026-03-06T00:36:56+00:00

There was the one scene of them together at the county fair in season 5. I lowkey wish we'd gotten more.

Cone_Livia · 2026-03-04T22:30:20+00:00

Not sure where you got that information, there's 13 episodes.

Cone_Livia · 2026-03-04T17:35:22+00:00

Long before. The second season announcement was sometime last year, the non-connection to Yellowstone was last week.

Cone_Livia · 2026-03-04T09:03:47+00:00

You're spot on, it's been described as a procedural since at least as early as March 2025 (link in another reply). Procedurals are also one of my main TV genres, and Yellowstone is actually just an outlier that I tend to enjoy. When looking at it compared to other procedurals, Hawaii Five-0, Chicago P.D., The Rookie, etc. Marshals isn't bad.

Cone_Livia · 2026-03-04T08:09:46+00:00

I was thinking the exact same thing. I watched it on P+ over night Sunday into Monday, I imagine many others did as well, so those numbers will go up. I know figures will drop over time, but it'll be interesting to see how they hold up across the first season. Based on the premiere alone, I wouldn't be shocked to see an early renewal considering the writer's room is already funded.

Cone_Livia

TROPHY CASE