Michelle Pfeiffer Reveals Tough ‘The Madison’ Filming Conditions

Michelle Pfeiffer is opening up about the rugged reality of filming Taylor Sheridan’s The Madison — and it sounds like the cast truly lived the Montana experience.

During a recent appearance on the LA Times podcast In Conversation: The Madison, the legendary actress described the remote filming conditions while working on Sheridan’s hit Paramount+ series, admitting the production sometimes felt more like camping than a traditional Hollywood set.

Still, despite the challenges, Pfeiffer made it clear the stunning scenery made it all worthwhile.

The Reality of Filming The Madison

Pfeiffer stars as Stacy Clyburn in The Madison, which follows a wealthy New York family relocating from Manhattan to Montana after a devastating tragedy.

Read More: ‘The Madison’ Seasons 2 and 3 Are Already Confirmed: Here’s Everything We Know [Spoilers Alert]

But according to the actress, filming in the open terrain came with a few unexpected adjustments.

“You may as well be in a tent because, you know, there is no bathroom,” Pfeiffer joked during the podcast interview. “Even the outhouse is not real. So, there’s no AC, there’s no plumbing, there isn’t anything.”

Even so, she quickly added, “But it is breathtakingly glorious.”

A Different Kind of TV Set

Pfeiffer explained that much of the production was designed to fully immerse viewers in the natural beauty of Montana and Texas, which sometimes meant sacrificing the usual Hollywood comforts.

“It took a while [to get used to] because they built that cabin,” she said. “It was all a little bit rushed for everyone and so there weren’t certain accommodations set up.”

Read More: ‘The Madison’ Star Reveals Why He Won’t Return for Season 2 [Spoilers Alert]

Because the show frequently filmed wide, 360-degree shots, the cast also couldn’t rely on traditional trailers nearby.

“There was really no place for us to sit,” Pfeiffer recalled. “There was no bathroom nearby. There was no food.”

She added that the weather became part of the experience, too.

In the winter, it was cold. And in the summer, it was like, ‘Could I get an umbrella because the sun’s really intense?’

Still, Pfeiffer said the production team eventually found its rhythm about halfway through filming.

The Madison Has Become a Massive Hit

Despite the rugged filming conditions, The Madison has quickly become one of Taylor Sheridan’s biggest successes yet.

The series debuted to 8 million global streaming views within its first 10 days, making it Sheridan’s biggest launch ever for Paramount+. The final three episodes of Season 1 dropped on March 21, and the show was renewed for a second season just days later.