Michelle Pfeiffer Discusses Challenging Filming Conditions on ‘The Madison’ Set
Michelle Pfeiffer has shared insights about the tough filming conditions on Taylor Sheridan’s series The Madison, highlighting a set that lacked basic comforts and featured long days in harsh environments.
During her appearance on the “In Conversation” podcast, Pfeiffer revealed that the production was sometimes rushed, leading to the absence of standard set facilities. She described the experience as uncomfortable, despite the location’s stunning visuals. As she noted, “There is no bathroom, even the outhouse is not real. So there’s no AC, there’s no plumbing, there isn’t anything. But it is breathtakingly glorious.”
Pfeiffer elaborated on how the setup impacted the cast and crew during filming. With scenes shot in a 360-degree format, traditional trailers couldn’t be positioned nearby, leaving actors without a place to rest between takes. She remarked that even basic necessities became challenging, stating, “We didn’t really have trailers there, because they were shooting 360, so they couldn’t have a bunch of trailers around. So there’s really no place for us to sit. There was no bathroom nearby. There was no food.”
The weather conditions added another layer of difficulty. Depending on the season, the cast faced either biting cold or sweltering heat, with minimal protection on set. Pfeiffer recalled requesting simple solutions to cope with the extremes, mentioning that winter brought sharp cold while summer’s sun was overwhelming.
Despite these challenges, Pfeiffer emphasized the beauty of the filming location. Set in rural Montana, the series follows a New York family as they attempt to rebuild their lives after a tragedy. She stars alongside Kurt Russell, Beau Garrett, Patrick J. Adams, Elle Chapman, Amiah Miller, Alaina Pollack, and Ben Schnetzer. The narrative focuses on themes of adjustment, survival, and emotional recovery in a remote setting.
The series is part of Taylor Sheridan’s expanding television universe, known for its large-scale outdoor productions and challenging filming conditions. Other actors involved in Sheridan projects have also commented on the difficulties of filming.
Cole Hauser, who has been part of Sheridan’s world through Yellowstone and its related projects, recently discussed the physical demands of shooting in remote locations. In an interview with Variety, he described how extreme weather and long distances between set areas made production physically taxing. He shared, “The weather was different. We started in July and August, and that was painful. It was 118 degrees, and you’re in all black, sitting on a horse. The trailers aren’t 200 yards away — they’re miles away.”
Hauser added that these conditions forced the cast to adapt quickly and learn how to navigate a much more demanding environment than typical studio productions.
Together, Pfeiffer’s and Hauser’s remarks paint a consistent picture of Sheridan’s productions: visually ambitious yet physically demanding for those involved. While the end goal is to achieve realism and scale, the process often entails long hours in extreme conditions with limited comfort on set.
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