The Secret Director Switch That Changed Everything
One of the biggest controversies surrounding Tombstone wasn’t in the script—it happened behind the camera.
Originally, director Kevin Jarre (who also wrote the screenplay) was supposed to helm the film. But just a few weeks into production, things started falling apart. Jarre, known for his intense perfectionism, struggled to keep the fast-paced schedule and was eventually fired from the project. What made headlines later was the rumor that Kurt Russell himself unofficially took over directing duties.
Although George P. Cosmatos was brought in as the new director, it’s widely believed that Russell secretly directed most of the movie, using Cosmatos as a “front.” Years later, Val Kilmer even confirmed this in interviews, saying: “Kurt is solely responsible for Tombstone. I watched him work hard to pull off what he knew the film could be. Kurt saved Tombstone.”
This revelation shocked many fans and further solidified Tombstone as a cult classic—not just because of the incredible acting and action, but because of the wild drama that happened off-screen too.
