Val Kilmer was amazing, but I think Tombstone’s original Doc Holiday could have been great too

tombstone is often cited as one of the best westerns of the 1990s, but I would have loved to see the alternate version with The original choice of the movie to play Val Kilmer’s character, Doc Holliday. The film takes place in the American Wild West and follows a successful lawman’s attempts to retire from his profession in Tombstone Arizona, but his plans quickly fall apart when a group of cowboys forces him to take justice into his own hands.

The film was very successful at the time, with many audiences crediting Kosmatos’ film for reviving the western genre and causing the huge boost in popularity it saw throughout the 90s. The story of Doc Holliday is finally immortalized on the screen in all the glory and drama it deserves, But what many audiences may not have realized at the time is that one member of tombstones ensemble cast is almost missing, which could have changed the film entirely.

Willem Dafoe as Tombstone’s Doc Holliday sounds kind of intriguing

The character would have been completely different

In the early days of tombstones production, Willem Dafoe was cast as Doc Holliday – the role that ultimately went to Val Kilmer. The actor was rejected by the studios because He was not seen as enough of a box office draw: His name was not as great as it is today, and tombstone‘s disastrous production meant that nobody’s position in the film was really secure. Kilmer was also seen as more of a conventionally attractive leading man, which spurred producers to cast him instead.

However, despite being a fan of the film, I’m intrigued by how Willem Dafoe’s take on Doc Holiday might have changed the movie. His performance would be radically differentProbably bringing a much more menacing and uncomfortable aura to the character that would have been fascinating to watch. Westerns are one of the very few genres that Dafoe hasn’t been too involved in in the past, so tombstone Could have been a great stepping stone for him to try something new.

Val Kilmer was the right choice for Tombstone’s Doc Holliday in the end

The actor was among the biggest highlights of the film

however, Val Kilmer finally proved himself as the right choice With his performance in tombstone. Alongside Kurt Russell’s protagonist, he steals the spotlight in countless scenes with his gripping and atypical performance as Doc Holliday. This is one of the most surprising roles of the actor, because it was unlike any project he had taken in the past – it allowed us to see him in a completely different light, which surely contributed to his successful rise in the 90 s.

From a business standpoint, The studio is likely right about Kilmer being more of a box office draw tombstone – And it paid off. The film became very successful, establishing itself as one of the best Westerns of its time, revitalizing the genre for a new generation. Without the huge names that were attached to the projects, it is uncertain whether this would have been possible.