Tombstoneis a classic Western thattells the story of Wyatt Earp’s adventures through the American Wild West, with Kurt Russell tackling the lead role alongside Val Kilmer, Sam Elliott, and Bill Paxton. The film quickly cemented itself as one of thegreatest Westerns of the 1990s, displaying a level of rich storytelling and intricate character work that wasn’t always present in the genre, causing an immense resurgence in that decade. However,Tombstonealmost looked very different, as Russell was initially set to play a completely different character.
The production behindTombstonewas an extremely troubled and turbulent one, with several changes happening during the filming process and causing problems for both the cast and crew. For example,Kurt Russell famously ended up directingTombstonehimself when the original director left the project, which caused much of the reshaping of the film. However,one last-minute change actually worked to the film’s benefit; certain roles were shuffled around, resulting in the iconic characters that we know and love today.
He Definitely Chose The Right Character
The process of casting Doc Holliday was a surprisingly difficult one:Willem Dafoe was originally in talks to play the prolific lawman, but he was rejected by the studio on the grounds that he wasn’t enough of an international star. The role was then offered to Kurt Russell himself, who rejected the idea and decided to play Wyatt Earp instead - much to the film’s benefit. Although he would surely have been great as Doc Holliday, I can’t imagine a world where Russell isn’t the driving force behind this story.
Every Death In Tombstone Explained
There are plenty of brutal deaths in Kurt Russell’s Tombstone, and sometimes it can be difficult to keep up with which character is which.
His performance as Wyatt Earp is one ofTombstone’s strongest assets - the level of charisma and ferocity that he brings to the character is unmatched, and without that central figure to keep the audience grounded to the story, the narrative wouldn’t work at all. He’s the driving force of this story, and whileTombstonehas many other great characters, it’sKurt Russell’s protagonist that holds much of the film’s emotional weight. While other actors would certainly have been good (Richard Gere was also in talks for the role), I’m not sure they could have matched Russell.
How Tombstone Would Be Different With Kurt Russell As Doc Holliday
The Actor Would Have Been Completely Different In The Role
To imagineTombstonewith Kurt Russell playing Doc Holliday is to imagine a completely different movie altogether. The actor has a completely different style to Val Kilmer, and their takes on the notorious figure would surely have been very distinct.Russell’s character would’ve likely been more stoic and fierce, while Kilmer leans into Holliday’s sickness and makes that weakness an important part of his character. Many ofTombstone’s best quoteswould have been delivered differently, perhaps not landing quite as memorably.
Russell had the action/adventure catalog needed for such an intense character, while Gere was known mostly for dramas.
Not to mention, Richard Gere’s portrayal of Wyatt Earp would have changed things drastically, too. While the two actors are fairly similar in both age and profile, they were known for totally different roles - Russell had the action/adventure catalog needed for such an intense character, while Gere was known mostly for dramas. He would’ve been playing against type, and while that’s always interesting to see, Russell was undeniably the safer and more conventional choice.
Val Kilmer Is Perfect As Doc Holliday In Tombstone
He Provides An All-Timer Performance
Putting everything that’s great about Kurt Russell’s performance aside, I’m confident that Val Kilmer is the star of the show inTombstone. Although his character gets less screen time, and he might not be as traditionally “cool” as Wyatt Earp, there’s a dynamism that Kilmer brings to the character that’s simply impossible to look away from. The actor delivers some unforgettableone-liners inTombstone,dripping with confidence and charisma in every scene despite the character’s physical weakness. It’s something that’s not frequently seen in the Western genre, andKilmer manages it perfectly.
Willem Dafoe probably would have made an excellent Doc Holliday too, as he’s renowned for a similar kind of charisma and screen presence, but there’s no way he could’ve outshone Kilmer.The actor brings something singular and unique to the characterthat hasn’t been replicated in the many other on-screen portrayals of Earp and Holliday, which is why his portrayal is still discussed over three decades after the release ofTombstone.
Tombstone
Cast
Tombstone chronicles legendary marshal Wyatt Earp and his brothers as they seek fortune in a prosperous mining town. Forced to confront a gang threatening the community, Earp joins forces with the infamous Doc Holliday, highlighting a tense battle between lawmen and outlaws in the American West.
