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Did Kurt Russell Actually Direct 'Tombstone'?
If you know me, you know I love a great Hollywood behind-the-scenes legend, and in the wake of Val Kilmer's tragic passing, I have been spending a lot of time with the movie Tombstone. There was a day when I read the script, looked up the meaning of "I'm your Huckleberry," and just basked in it being one of the best westerns of all time. And while doing that, I uncovered a pretty cool detail about who really directed the movie. So today, I want to unpack whether or not Kurt Russell actually directed Tombstone and go through the facts.Sound good? Let's dive in. Kurt Russell Directed TombstoneWhen you think of the 1993 Western classic Tombstone, Kurt Russell's steely-eyed portrayal of Wyatt Earp immediately comes to mind.I mean, the guy is a movie star giving an epic performance. But for years, whispers and eventually outright confirmations have painted a picture of Russell's involvement going far beyond just wearing the badge and mustache. Did Kurt Russell actually direct large parts of Tombstone?The story is a bit more complex than a simple yes or no.Initially, Tombstone was the passion project of screenwriter Kevin Jarre (known for Glory). He penned the sprawling, detailed script and was set to make his directorial debut. However, reports from the set indicated that Jarre, while a brilliant writer, struggled with the practical demands of directing a large-scale Western. He reportedly fell behind schedule quickly.And when you run behind schedule, the studio gets a little scared. Money starts getting spent, the budget goes up, and the pressure is on. Eventually, the studio made a tough call: Kevin Jarre was fired about a month into shooting.Instead of scrapping the movie, the producers brought in George P. Cosmatos, a director known for action films like Rambo: First Blood Part II and Cobra to take over. So, When Did Kurt Russell Step In?While Cosmatos was the credited director, Kurt Russell himself, along with co-star Val Kilmer (who played Doc Holliday), have saif stated the years that Russell effectively ghost-directed much of the film.This all came to light in a blog Val Kilmer wrote. In it, he said, “I was there every minute and although Kurt’s version differs slightly from mine, the one thing he’s totally correct about is how hard he worked the day before, for the next day’s shot list, and tremendous effort he and I both put into editing, as the studio [Hollywood Pictures] wouldn’t give us any extra time to make up for the whole month we lost with the first director.” Kilmer continued, “I watched Kurt sacrifice his own role and energy to devote himself as a storyteller, even going so far as to draw up shot lists to help our replacement director, George Cosmatos, who came in with only two days prep.”Kilmer's blog expanded on the work Russell did. “I was very clear and outspoken about what I wanted to do with my role, and actors like Powers Boothe, who we just lost, and Bill Paxton, were always 100% supportive, even in the blistering heat and sometimes as the day would fade, at the possible expense of their own screen time." Kilmer kept going, saying, “I would even go up to [Russell] and whisper, ‘Go for another…’ meaning another take when I thought he could go further, but in the interest of the schedule, he would pound on,” Kilmer wrote. “Very Wyatt-like come to think of it.”Apparently, Kilmer and Russell even lived together to make sure they got their roles right. Kilmer continued, “He and I worked so hard I eventually moved in with him and slept on the sofa when Goldie wasn’t in town, so we could use the extra 20 minutes writing or going over schedule, etc. And I got all the best lines and he knew it and still laughed and joked every single day.”Now look, in all that Kilmer never fully says it happened, but you get the picture. in a 2006 interview with True West magazine, Kurt Russell weighed in on the controversy. According to that article, he said "I said to George [Cosmatos], “I’m going to give you a shot list every night, and that’s what’s going to be.” I’d go to George’s room, give him the shot list for the next day, that was the deal." And in that same conversation, which you can only read about second hand now, Russell told Cosmatos that he wouldn't reveal the truth about the production to anyone until Cosmatos died (he did so in 2005, before the interview).Summing It All Up This is a crazy story with a lot of facets. We will probably never get full confirmation of who directed it and why, but I feel like we have a good idea of what went on during that production. Making a movie is hard work, and it's cool to see how Kilmer and Russell were able to rely on one another on set and able to step up to make a classic movie. Let me know what you think of this in the comments.
If you know me, you know I love a great Hollywood behind-the-scenes legend, and in the wake of Val Kilmer's tragic passing, I have been spending a lot of time with the movie Tombstone.
There was a day when I read the script, looked up the meaning of "I'm your Huckleberry," and just basked in it being one of the best westerns of all time.
And while doing that, I uncovered a pretty cool detail about who really directed the movie. So today, I want to unpack whether or not Kurt Russell actually directed Tombstone and go through the facts.
Sound good? Let's dive in.
Kurt Russell Directed Tombstone
When you think of the 1993 Western classic Tombstone, Kurt Russell's steely-eyed portrayal of Wyatt Earp immediately comes to mind.
I mean, the guy is a movie star giving an epic performance.
But for years, whispers and eventually outright confirmations have painted a picture of Russell's involvement going far beyond just wearing the badge and mustache.
Did Kurt Russell actually direct large parts of Tombstone?
The story is a bit more complex than a simple yes or no.
Initially, Tombstone was the passion project of screenwriter Kevin Jarre (known for Glory). He penned the sprawling, detailed script and was set to make his directorial debut.
However, reports from the set indicated that Jarre, while a brilliant writer, struggled with the practical demands of directing a large-scale Western.
He reportedly fell behind schedule quickly.
And when you run behind schedule, the studio gets a little scared. Money starts getting spent, the budget goes up, and the pressure is on.
Eventually, the studio made a tough call: Kevin Jarre was fired about a month into shooting.
Instead of scrapping the movie, the producers brought in George P. Cosmatos, a director known for action films like Rambo: First Blood Part II and Cobra to take over.
So, When Did Kurt Russell Step In?
While Cosmatos was the credited director, Kurt Russell himself, along with co-star Val Kilmer (who played Doc Holliday), have saif stated the years that Russell effectively ghost-directed much of the film.
This all came to light in a blog Val Kilmer wrote. In it, he said, “I was there every minute and although Kurt’s version differs slightly from mine, the one thing he’s totally correct about is how hard he worked the day before, for the next day’s shot list, and tremendous effort he and I both put into editing, as the studio [Hollywood Pictures] wouldn’t give us any extra time to make up for the whole month we lost with the first director.”
Kilmer continued, “I watched Kurt sacrifice his own role and energy to devote himself as a storyteller, even going so far as to draw up shot lists to help our replacement director, George Cosmatos, who came in with only two days prep.”
Kilmer's blog expanded on the work Russell did.
“I was very clear and outspoken about what I wanted to do with my role, and actors like Powers Boothe, who we just lost, and Bill Paxton, were always 100% supportive, even in the blistering heat and sometimes as the day would fade, at the possible expense of their own screen time."
Kilmer kept going, saying, “I would even go up to [Russell] and whisper, ‘Go for another…’ meaning another take when I thought he could go further, but in the interest of the schedule, he would pound on,” Kilmer wrote. “Very Wyatt-like come to think of it.”
Apparently, Kilmer and Russell even lived together to make sure they got their roles right.
Kilmer continued, “He and I worked so hard I eventually moved in with him and slept on the sofa when Goldie wasn’t in town, so we could use the extra 20 minutes writing or going over schedule, etc. And I got all the best lines and he knew it and still laughed and joked every single day.”
Now look, in all that Kilmer never fully says it happened, but you get the picture.
in a 2006 interview with True West magazine, Kurt Russell weighed in on the controversy. According to that article, he said "I said to George [Cosmatos], “I’m going to give you a shot list every night, and that’s what’s going to be.” I’d go to George’s room, give him the shot list for the next day, that was the deal."
And in that same conversation, which you can only read about second hand now, Russell told Cosmatos that he wouldn't reveal the truth about the production to anyone until Cosmatos died (he did so in 2005, before the interview).
Summing It All Up
This is a crazy story with a lot of facets. We will probably never get full confirmation of who directed it and why, but I feel like we have a good idea of what went on during that production.
Making a movie is hard work, and it's cool to see how Kilmer and Russell were able to rely on one another on set and able to step up to make a classic movie.
Let me know what you think of this in the comments.
