Kurt Russell has addressed the debate around how Taylor Sheridan writes women, and he believes the creator’s new series tells a different story.
Russell pointed to Sheridan’s upcoming drama, ‘The Madison‘, and said it presents a more female-centered viewpoint. And many viewers still accuse the Yellowstone creator of over-sexualizing women on screen.
Kurt Russell Says ‘The Madison’ Serves As A Female-Gaze Story
Russell spoke in support of Taylor Sheridan while promoting ‘The Madison‘. He described the show as “female-gaze-oriented” and said it feels very different compared to Sheridan’s earlier projects.
Russell presented the drama as one that gives women a stronger presence in the story. An interview in Entertainment Weekly captured his thoughts. He called the series extremely well written and said he had a great time working on it.
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Russell also said the project felt compelling and enjoyable during filming.
The series connects to Yellowstone as a modern-day spin-off. The story follows the Clyburn family after a tragedy leads them to leave New York City for Montana.
The cast includes Michelle Pfeiffer, Elle Chapman, Beau Garrett, Matthew Fox, Patrick J. Adams, and Will Arnett. Russell praised Pfeiffer and said awards voters might end up looking her way.
Critics Continue To Call Out Sheridan’s Portrayals
Sheridan has faced repeated backlash over female representation in his series. Viewers often point to patterns in shows such as 1883, 1923, Mayor of Kingstown, and Landman. Many critics argue that several female roles appear sexualized or written around male-driven plots.
Salon culture editor Kelly McClure once criticized how women appear in Yellowstone. She wrote that women on the show often appear fighting, having sex, crying, or yelling, and she questioned whether that pattern reflects the “cowboy way.” A Salon review of Landman even carried a headline arguing that the drama seemed to dislike women.
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Online conversations are only adding to the criticism. Reddit hosts many threads that question Sheridan’s approach. And, one widely shared post claimed he simply does not like women. Sheridan also drew scrutiny in 2024 when he cast supermodel Bella Hadid as the girlfriend of a minor character he played himself in a controversial Yellowstone episode.
However, you’ll be surprised to know that Russell almost missed the series because of a clash involving Monarch: Legacy of Monsters. He explained that filming on that project overlapped, and he initially believed joining The Madison would be impossible. He even told the team there was no way to do both at once.
Still, recasting did not appeal to Sheridan or Pfeiffer. They wanted Russell in the role, so they searched for a workaround instead of replacing him. As a result, Pfeiffer and Sheridan worked with Paramount+ on a creative plan. Russell shared that the team decided to produce two seasons and film his material first. Production completed its portion early, then moved ahead on the next season.
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