Kevin Costner Almost Stopped Tombstone: The Greatest Western that Never Was

by

In a surprising twist, it’s worth noting that while Kevin Costner is often associated with ruling the realm of contemporary Westerns, he came very close to hindering the making of what could be considered one of the finest films within this genre.

Even though Costner might currently be engrossed in launching the remaining episodes of his Horizon: An American Saga series, it’s worth noting that years ago, he was deeply captivated by a different tale – the tale of Wyatt Earp.

Indeed, in 1994, he produced a film based on a dramatic portrayal of the well-known lawman. Interestingly, prior to that, he had been given the opportunity to play the character in the 1993 film Tombstone, but chose another path instead.

In recent times, Tombstone is primarily recognized as the high-octane action film starring Kurt Russell and Val Kilmer – with no sign of Kevin Costner around. However, this brief chapter in Western cinema history was brimming with intrigue and drama, all revolving around Costner’s dedication to Earp.

Kevin Costner was initially offered Tombstone role

Prior to the concept of a standalone Wyatt Earp film being developed, Costner was given the opportunity to play the same character in Tombstone (later played by Kurt Russell). Instead of participating in an ensemble production, Costner chose to create a singular project centered around the character of Earp.

By this stage, Costner had solidified his status as a dominant force within the genre, largely due to the triumph of Dances with Wolves in 1990. Consequently, there was immense anticipation surrounding Wyatt Earp, and many believed that if any of those films were to underperform, it would be Tombstone.

The producer of Wyatt Earp, Jim Wilson, was reportedly quoted as saying, “Due to the foolish mindset in this town, they won’t allow two films about Earp to move forward. If I were a betting man, I’d wager that Tombstone won’t get made.

Costner took all the Western costumes around

The conflict was raging. Two films featured Wyatt Earp as the main character, and they both centered around the same incidents, such as the well-known shootout at the O.K. Corral. Essentially, this frontier settlement couldn’t accommodate two individuals like them.

At approximately the same period, two productions were underway, leading to fresh challenges. It’s said that Costner had already amassed most of the Western wardrobe in Hollywood, so Russell (effectively overseeing Tombstone’s production) found himself compelled to think creatively.

Joseph Porro, the costume designer, later expressed that it was incredibly challenging. In fact, there weren’t any cowboy hats left for rental at all, not even at any of the studios.

Consequently, they resorted to procuring goods from Europe, as that was where the newly wealthy residents of Tombstone initially purchased their clothing.

Tombstone ended up winning the race

Eventually, two films hit the screens with a gap of only six months between them – Tombstone debuted in December 1993, followed by Wyatt Earp in June 1994.

Nevertheless, it turned out that the victor in this contest was not as successful. The three-hour epic drama, “Wyatt Earp,” managed to garner only $55.9 million at the box office compared to its production cost of $63 million. Additionally, the reviews for this movie were rather divided.

As a die-hard movie enthusiast, I can proudly say that “Tombstone” was an incredible triumph for me! With a modest budget of $25 million, it went on to rake in an impressive $73.2 million at the box office. Now, it stands as a beloved cult classic and a genre-defining landmark – something every Western fan should appreciate!

2024 saw Costner reminiscing about the experience, sharing with GQ, “I have a soft spot for Wyatt, or I simply adore that film. We found ourselves in a fierce rivalry with Tombstone. A close friend advised, ‘Let’s push back this movie. We don’t want to go head-to-head.’

I responded, ‘I believe the writer and director intend to create this film, let them.’ From there, a sort of rivalry unfolded. I’ve always felt sad about the unnecessary competition, as Tombstone was enjoyable, but it’s unfortunate how things turned out.

Discover additional information on how to stream Kevin Costner’s Western films. Additionally, keep updated with the latest developments on Horizon: An American Saga – Chapter 2, and explore our curated collection showcasing some of the greatest motion pictures ever made.

Read More

2025-02-16 19:18