This Tombstone Star Wrote A Sequel That Dropped Wyatt Earp Completely

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Stephen Lang, known for his role in the movie Tombstone, actually wrote a sequel idea that wouldn’t have included Kurt Russell’s character at all. While Tombstone is now considered a classic Western, its production was famously chaotic. The original director, Kevin Jarre, was let go, and Kurt Russell, who also starred in the film, ended up essentially directing much of it himself, unofficially.

Due to limited time and money, the original script had to be significantly trimmed. While you can still see some evidence of these cuts, the movie remains an exciting Western with a fantastic cast. This includes Stephen Lang, known for his role in Avatar, who plays the blustering and cowardly outlaw, Ike Clanton.

Stephen Lang Penned Tombstone 2: The Chinaman’s Chance For Sam Elliott

In 2026, Kurt Russell and Michael Biehn, who both starred in the movie Tombstone, got together for an episode of Biehn’s podcast, Just Foolin’ About. They shared memories of making the film, including a story Russell told about seeing the director, George P. Cosmatos, in a remote area of the set.

Lang described a bizarre scene where the director was spraying cheese into his mouth while simultaneously using the restroom. He also told Biehn about a sequel script he’d written, called Tombstone 2: The Chinaman’s Chance. The story would have focused on a mining adventure featuring Sam Elliott reprising his role as Virgil Earp, Wyatt’s brother.

In the film and in reality, Virgil suffered a permanent injury to his left arm during an assassination attempt. Following this, he and his wife left Tombstone as Wyatt Earp pursued the Cowboys gang for revenge. Although the identity of the shooter remains uncertain, Ike Clanton is considered a strong possibility.

Lang shared that although Ike Clanton was included in the later script, his brother Phineas was originally intended to be the primary antagonist. While Phineas Clanton didn’t appear in the first version of Tombstone, he actually had a significant and hostile history with the Earps. Lang also described Phin as making the other Clantons seem harmless in comparison.

Tombstone 2 Could Have Been A Great Epilogue To The First Movie

Unfortunately, Lang didn’t share many specifics about his plans for Tombstone 2, including if Wyatt Earp might have made a brief appearance. It seems the story would have focused on what happened to Virgil Earp after leaving Tombstone – things like his time as a lawman and his later career as a miner.

The Clanton brothers probably went to Tombstone looking to get revenge on Virgil. The movie’s title, The Chinaman’s Chance, comes from an old expression meaning someone has very little hope of success. This phrase originated from the unfair way Chinese immigrants were treated in America during the 1800s.

Lang’s idea for ‘Tombstone 2’ sounded interesting and could have been a good way to continue the story, showing the aftermath of the first film from a new angle. Plus, starring Sam Elliott in a Western is always a winning choice. Unfortunately, the sequel never happened, and it’s unlikely to now.

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2026-03-13 19:48