Grief sits quietly at the heart of The Madison, Taylor Sheridan’s new drama following the Clyburn family as they leave New York City for the wide, untamed landscapes of Montana’s Madison River valley after a devastating loss. For the cast, that emotional terrain wasn’t just something to perform – it was something many of them personally understood.
When our Peter Gray spoke with stars Elle Chapman, Patrick J. Adams and Amiah Miller about the series, the conversation drifted from the catharsis of telling stories about grief to the movies that unexpectedly break our hearts, and what Montana represents for characters trying to rebuild their lives in the aftermath of tragedy.
It’s very nice to meet you all. I’ve been fortunate enough to speak with Christina, Ben, and Rebecca already, and I was telling them that I feel a little bit of jealousy knowing you all got to work with Michelle Pfeiffer. For me, she’s one of those actors who made me fall in love with movies, so it’s a nice one-degree-of-separation moment.
First of all, congratulations on the show. It’s such a beautiful series. I actually connected with it in a very personal way. There’s a lovely scene where the family is watching A River Runs Through It, and it becomes unexpectedly emotional. I was curious – have you ever had a film hit you completely differently depending on what was happening in your life at the time?
Elle Chapman: That’s a really good question. A River Runs Through It actually became a big touchstone for us. Before we started filming, some of us watched it together at Beau’s (Garrett) house. I remember completely losing it watching that film again – obviously you think about loss in a story like that. But it was also kind of perfect for setting the tone before we started shooting. We really tried to put ourselves in that headspace. This show has such a quiet beauty to it, and that quietness allows all these intimate relationships to develop. We really tried to create that same feeling off screen as well, just through spending time together and hanging out as a cast.
Patrick J. Adams: For me, Ordinary People. If we’re talking Robert Redford movies, I don’t think I can get through that one without crying. I also watched Kramer vs. Kramer recently – anything with kids tends to devastate me.
But you know what makes me cry more than anything in movies? It’s not even a specific film – it’s that moment in movies where everyone comes together to perform the final thing they’ve been working towards the entire time. Like in Sister Act 2 or Mr. Holland’s Opus, when the big performance happens at the end. I don’t know why, but that absolutely destroys me every time.
So I guess my answer is… Sister Act 2.
I love the range of answers there – Sister Act 2 was not one I was expecting, but I completely get it.
Amiah Miller: For me it’s Dead Poets Society. It’s one of my favourite films, and honestly it breaks my heart every time I watch it. It doesn’t really matter what headspace I’m in – it just gets me.
Obviously with the show, the story moves from Manhattan to Montana. Emotionally, what do you feel Montana represents for your characters? Is it escape, confrontation… or something else entirely?
Patrick J. Adams: Mortal danger (laughs). Russell is definitely the kind of guy who believes nature, in its purest form, wants him dead at all costs. So Montana is… dangerous.
Amiah Miller: For Bridget, I think Montana represents slowing down. It’s about getting off her phone, touching grass, and actually spending time with her family. She’s someone who has probably taken the people around her for granted a little bit, and being there gives her the chance to step back and recognise what really matters.
Elle Chapman: For Paige, I think Montana represents confrontation. It forces her to reconsider what’s most important in her life. For a long time, her career has been the defining thing for her, and obviously her relationship with her husband is important too – but it’s really only when they’re pulled out of that comfortable New York lifestyle that she begins to see things more clearly.
The first 3 episodes of The Madison will be available to stream on Paramount+ from March 14th, 2026, with episodes 4-6 arriving on March 21st.
