Kurt Russell Secretly Directed ‘Tombstone’: The Debate Explained

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In the cinematic world, the directing credit for Kurt Russell‘s iconic 1993 Western, “Tombstone,” remains a topic of continuous discussion. This film, often regarded as one of the finest Westerns to emerge from the ’90s alongside masterpieces like Michael Mann’s “The Last of the Mohicans,” Kevin Costner’s “Dances with Wolves,” Clint Eastwood’s “Unforgiven,” and Robert Rodriguez’s “El Mariachi,” offers an exhilarating, gun-slinging adventure that has only grown in popularity over time. Loosely inspired by the events of 1880s Arizona, it is a lavish, star-studded production boasting memorable scenes such as its dramatic reenactment of the Gunfight at the O.K. Corral. The journey to bring this film to the big screen was not without challenges, but due to one of its leading actors’ unwavering determination, it successfully made its way onto our screens and has since become many people’s favorite Western movie. That determined actor was none other than Kurt Russell, who breathed life into the character of Wyatt Earp, a performance that outshone Kevin Costner’s portrayal in the subsequent film “Wyatt Earp.

What sets Tombstone apart? Firstly, its impressive set design, like many Westerns, is noteworthy. However, what truly elevates it above other Westerns (and most films in general) is the exceptional casting. Kurt Russell excels in the lead role, embodying his signature gruff demeanor with endearing appeal. Surrounding him is an array of outstanding actors, including Michael Biehn from The Terminator, the late Powers Boothe, Dana Delany, Sam Elliott, Stephen Lang from Avatar, Bill Paxton, Michael Rooker from Guardians of the Galaxy, Billy Zane, Charlton Heston, and Val Kilmer, who would later play Batman. Interestingly, Wyatt Earp III, a descendant of the real-life character, is also part of the cast. Yet, it’s not Kurt Russell but rather Val Kilmer who steals the show with his career-best performance as Doc Holliday, a dying gambler and gunfighter with a strong bond with Earp.

Who Got Official Credit and Why Is There an Argument for Russell?

Initially, the screenwriter of ‘Tombstone’, Kevin Jarre, was set to make his directorial debut with this film. Interestingly, he had written the initial story for ‘Rambo: First Blood Part II’ eight years prior. However, just a month into production, he was dismissed and replaced by none other than George P. Cosmatos, who happened to direct the sequel of ‘First Blood’. Despite being let go, some of Jarre’s filmed scenes, particularly those with Charlton Heston, were kept in the final version of the movie.

In simpler terms, Jarre was dismissed from the project due to being overburdened with the responsibilities, but Cosmatos wasn’t an ideal replacement as he lacked a grasp of the screenplay, according to Michael Biehn. Additionally, Cosmatos caused friction among the crew with his demanding attitude. During this time, Russell made adjustments to Jarre’s script, primarily by removing unnecessary plotlines and emphasizing the relationship between Wyatt Earp and Doc Holliday.

While working on the script, Russell also assumed directorial responsibilities for the film. Although Cosmatos was officially hired as the director, Russell took on a significant role behind the scenes, often referred to as a “ghost director.” Accounts from the cast about this vary, but there’s general agreement that Russell played a crucial part in preparing the shot list for each day. However, neither Kilmer nor Biehn have publicly called Russell the actual director, instead using terms like “essentially” directed or “never directly by Russell, only Cosmatos.” Despite this, it’s clear that Russell played an important role in the direction of the film on a day-to-day basis.

To put it simply, the truth about whether Kurt Russell directed “Tombstone” lies somewhere between yes and no. Interestingly enough, this clarification was provided by none other than Kurt Russell himself.

Russell shared with Rolling Stone that “Tombstone” will forever be a riddle. He made a vow to someone, possibly Cosmatos, not to discuss certain matters publicly. At the close of the day, he’s very pleased with how it turned out. It boasted an exceptional cast and a screenwriter who, in his opinion, penned the greatest Western dialogue ever written. And he often sees it gaining recognition among the top Western films. To put it simply, if Russell hadn’t been involved, “Tombstone” wouldn’t have existed either.

In essence, Russell has not been recognized as a director for any film up until now. However, if by some chance his name were to be associated with “Tombstone” in that role, there would be little debate about him being labeled one of the top “One and done” directors in cinematic history.

Tombstone is available to stream on AMC+.

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2025-02-17 00:10