The Return of Godzilla’s Spinoff Is the Perfect Reminder of Kurt Russell’s 30-Year-Old Sci-Fi Gem

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As a huge movie fan, I’ve always noticed how sci-fi draws in all kinds of actors. There’s something really cool about getting to play in a world that feels both familiar and totally alien. Some actors dip their toes in with a project or two, but others really commit. Keanu Reeves has done some amazing work, like The Matrix and The Day the Earth Stood Still, and Sigourney Weaver is a legend with the original Alien films and the Avatar movies. But honestly, there’s one actor I think doesn’t get nearly enough credit for his sci-fi contributions: Kurt Russell. He’s fantastic in the genre and deserves more recognition!

Kurt Russell’s journey into science fiction started with the 1969 Disney film, The Computer Wore Tennis Shoes, where he played Dexter Riley, a character who gains computer-like abilities after an electric shock. While the movie wasn’t a major success, Russell persevered and eventually starred in John Carpenter’s acclaimed The Thing. Though The Thing is a standout role, there’s another sci-fi film from Russell’s career that deserves more attention. With a new monster movie on the horizon for the actor, it’s the perfect time to rediscover this hidden gem.

Kurt Russell Helped Kick Off a Major Sci-Fi Franchise

It’s not uncommon for a remake to become so popular that people forget about the original. This definitely happened with Battlestar Galactica, where many fans love the 2003 series without knowing about the original show from the 1970s. But Battlestar Galactica isn’t the only example – people who become fans of Stargate SG-1 often don’t even realize it started as a movie.

Roland Emmerich, the director famous for big-budget disaster films, first envisioned the sci-fi movie Stargate in the 1990s – a story about a ring that opens portals to other galaxies. Coming off the success of Universal Soldier, he quickly secured funding and cast Kurt Russell as Colonel Jack O’Neil, a sorrowful father tasked with leading his team safely back to Earth. While critics weren’t overly impressed when the film debuted, it was a box office hit, and Russell’s performance was widely praised for adding emotional depth and believability to the fantastical story. He consistently brings this same engaging quality to all his roles, including those in the MonsterVerse films.

Monarch Isn’t Done With Kurt Russell Just Yet

As a longtime fan of Kurt Russell, it’s been fun watching his career evolve! It’s been almost 30 years since Stargate, and now he’s tackling giant monsters in Apple TV+’s Monarch: Legacy of Monsters. He plays the older Lee Shaw, a military man involved with the organization studying these creatures. What’s really cool is his son, Wyatt Russell, plays the younger version of the same character in flashbacks – a great bit of family casting! Sadly, the way Season 1 ended makes it look like Wyatt’s the only Russell we’ll see moving forward. It seems like his character, the older Lee Shaw, sacrifices himself to save everyone and falls into the Hollow Earth, which honestly reminded me a lot of how O’Neil handled things in Stargate – a classic heroic exit.

The trailer for Monarch Season 2 surprised everyone by bringing back Russell, and sending him to Skull Island – the home of Kong! Shaw’s return is just the first of many twists the new season will likely have. With fans having to wait until February 2026 to find out more, there’s plenty of time to revisit Stargate and see Russell in another sci-fi role.

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2025-11-22 00:44