The sweeping landscapes and charm of rural life form the very soul of Taylor Sheridan’s storytelling universe. And Yellowstone showed how the setting was important to its storytelling. These stunning landscapes clearly had a role more than simply pleasing the eye. 

So, it was essential that one of the most anticipated shows from Sheridan’s universe, The Madison, stayed true to that essence. When it came to filming locations, creators made some intriguing choices that formed the heart and soul of the show.

For The Madison, creator Taylor Sheridan once again returned to Montana. Much of the show was filmed in the Madison River Valley. As for Madison Avenue in New York shown in the series, those scenes were filmed in the Dallas–Fort Worth area in Texas, where Sheridan also has a production studio. 

These two locations, Madison River Valley and Madison Avenue, also inspired the title, so even if only partially, the show stays true to its roots. At the same time, it also explored new places. The standalone series follows Stacy Clyburn, played by Michelle Pfeiffer, and her family as they leave their home on Madison Avenue and go to the Madison River Valley in Montana, after the death of Clyburn’s husband (Kurt Russell).

This setting is also quite different from the filming location of Yellowstone, which was in the Bitterroot Valley in Montana. It brought a fresh story that explores a new ecosystem, as director and executive producer Christina Alexandra Voros explains. 

“It’s just a completely different language of nature in that space. And it was exciting to explore a different ecosystem," Voros said.

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This approach is just as evident in Marshals, where the creators cleverly chose the filming locations for the series.

Marshals debuted with an impressive performance, drawing 20.6 million viewers across CBS as well as Paramount+ in just a week. While the story is set in Montana, filming there was limited, with only a few scenes shot on location. Most of the series was filmed in Utah, around local ranches, Park City, and at Utah Film Studios. 

This was reportedly due to Utah’s better tax benefits, as well as its rugged landscape. This is also where Yellowstone was initially shot before moving entirely to Montana for later seasons. While there are clear creative choices in these filming decisions, the creators have also made an effort to maintain authenticity. And that makes the shows unique.

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What do you think about creative choices made for the filming location in The Madison? Share your thoughts.