Loosely based on the real-life events of 1880s South Arizona, including the intense Gunfight at the O.K. Corral and the Earp Vendetta Ride, Tombstone was both a critical and commercial success when it came out, but over the years, it reached classic status, even ranking as one of the best Western movies of all time. Russell has starred in other projects in the genre since then, with films such as Quentin Tarantino’s The Hateful Eight and S. Craig Zahler’s Bone Tomahawk. Still, there’s something particularly special about Tombstone and the actor’s performance in it.
Suffice it to say, the 1993 movie ranks first in terms of Russell’s Western projects, but that could change in 2026.
Kurt Russell Joins Taylor Sheridan’s Neo-Western Universe With The Madison
Russell returns to the Western genre this year, but instead of the project being on the big screen like all of his previous offerings, this one is launching on the small screen. In The Madison, the acclaimed actor is playing the Clyburn patriarch, Preston, opposite Michelle Pfeiffer’s Stacy. The show follows the Manhattan-based family who move to Montana along the Madison River after a crushing tragedy and is created by Taylor Sheridan, who is behind some of the most successful neo-Western offerings in the last decade.
Taylor Sheridan Breaks His Western Franchise Expansion Formula W/ Perfect Yellowstone Replacement
Taylor Sheridan is expanding his Western TV show franchise with his Yellowstone replacement, deviating from his storytelling formula for the genre.
The Madison is scheduled to debut on Paramount+ on March 14 with an initial 6-episode run. Originally, the project was assumed to be a Yellowstone spinoff sequel, which would have meant that it would join Kayce’s Marshals on CBS and the upcoming Beth and Rip-starrer, Dutton Ranch as Sheridan’s post-Kevin Costner era of the show. Belatedly, however, it was revealed that The Madison is a different show entirely and the Clyburns are not tied to the Duttons.
Why The Madison Can Beat Tombstone As Kurt Russell’s Most Well-Known Western
Admittedly, The Madison is very different from Tombstone and Russell’s other Western shows. Instead of being a gun-slinging character who likes to operate dangerously, Preston is primarily a family man. He is defined by being a husband, father, and grandfather in the new show. Based on the promotional materials for The Madison, it doesn’t seem like he will get himself entangled with law enforcement. Instead, the appeal of his character is how he and his family straddle two very different lifestyles.
That being said, The Madison‘s chances of becoming Russell’s most well-known Western are rooted in two elements. Firstly, the show is part of the well-oiled Sheridanverse. Despite Costner’s untimely and controversial exit from Yellowstone, he was still the poster character of the series until it ends, and arguably, even now. His presence in it loomed even after John III’s death, as the tragedy motivated the rest of its run. Billy Bob Thornton and Sylvester Stallone in Landman and Tulsa King are the same in that sense, and Russell can follow in their footsteps.
Secondly, The Madison is a TV series, and while it hasn’t even released its freshman year, it has supposedly finished filming for season 2, hinting that it will run longer than 6 episodes. This allows for more time to establish Russell’s Preston and the rest of the Clyburns as characters, giving people the chance to be more invested in their story. Being on streaming also makes it more accessible to a broader audience, including those who might not even be usual Western fans but are looking for a new weekend watch.
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The Madison
- Release Date
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March 14, 2026
- Network
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Paramount Network
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Michelle Pfeiffer
Stacy Clyburn
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Patrick J. Adams
Russell McIntosh
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Beau Garrett
Abigail Reese
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Elle Chapman
Paige McIntosh
