But that is a pretty hard thing to predict considering that about after a month of production, the film’s initial director, Kevin Jarre, was replaced mid-production. Jarre, who also wrote the screenplay, was primarily a writer whose credits include 1989’s poignant Glory. However, he and Russell did not apparently hit it off on the Tombstone set, and Jarre was eventually let go after falling behind schedule. Thus First Blood II: Rambo director George P. Cosmatos came aboard with less than a week of prep. Here is the bulk of Kilmer’s recollections on Russell’s work on the picture: Kilmer even relayed that he and Russell more or less lived together while working on the script every morning, with the lead actor of the picture graciously sacrificing his role and giving Kilmer more and more of the spotlight. We lost our first director after a month of shooting and 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 2 days prep. 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. Kurt did this for the film virtually every hour. I would even go up to him 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. Very Wyatt-like come to think of it. You can read Kilmer’s complete remembrances of Tombstone, as well as Bill Paxton and Powers Boothe, by clicking right here. Read and download the full Den of Geek Special Edition magazine here!
