More than twenty years after starring in Tombstone, Kurt Russell sought to bring its spiritual successor to life. Unlike many actors of his generation who fade after retirement, Russell has continued thriving in his career well into older age.
Since turning 60, he has appeared in diverse projects—from blockbuster hits like Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 2 to auteur-driven films such as Once Upon a Time in Hollywood. He's even portrayed Santa Claus twice, showing his versatility.
One of the standout films in Russell’s later career is the 2015 western Bone Tomahawk, which mixes traditional frontier drama with horror elements. Russell plays Sheriff Franklin Hunt, who leads a small-town group on a dangerous mission to rescue three hostages held by a cannibalistic tribe.
The film is unapologetic in its depiction of violence and gore, featuring a particularly harrowing scene that left many viewers deeply affected.
Bone Tomahawk marked the feature debut of director S. Craig Zahler and faced numerous production challenges. Despite this, Russell was determined to see the project through. In an interview with Esquire, he said:
“It’s just one of those little indie movies that they were going to try to put together. They were coming to me, and I told Craig…that I liked it and I wanted to talk to him about what he wanted to do."
Russell's dedication to projects like Bone Tomahawk reflects his enduring passion for acting and storytelling, maintaining relevance and artistic integrity decades into his career.
Author’s summary: Kurt Russell has defied aging norms by embracing diverse roles and passionately supporting ambitious projects like Bone Tomahawk, blending genre and challenging boundaries in film.