Kurt Russell, industry legend, turned down the ’90s sci-fi Stargate film for a reason that would make OG fans of the film go nuts. The actor had reportedly turned down the script multiple times before getting a good deal. Producers Dean Devlin and Roland Emmerich were making the movie on their own without the backing of a major Hollywood studio, and spoke to Variety about signing on Russell:
What we found out is that he had been given the wrong script. He was given a very early draft of the script that should never have gotten out. So, when he actually saw the shooting script he went, ‘Oh, this isn’t so bad.”
The actor requested multiple tweaks to the script, including his hairstyle, which later turned out to be an iconic part of the film’s aesthetic. Despite Russell signing on, the film was still seeing multiple problems throughout its production.
Stargate Was Plagued By Issues with Kurt Russell and Co-Star
The producers had to keep upping their price to get the star power the film needed, eventually conceding to paying Kurt Russell millions.
Russell and co-star James Spader had concerns over the film’s dialogue, refusing to shoot scenes without script rewrites. Infamously, Spader refused to come out of his trailer till he got the rewrite, and producer Devlin recalled the hilarious exchange between the two actors in the Variety piece:
There was one day where [Spader] wouldn’t come out of his trailer until we rewrote the scenes. Kurt Russell got very upset with him. He burst into his trailer and said ‘What are you doing?’ And Jim said, ‘Come on, admit it. The dialogue is horrible.’ Kurt Russell said, ‘Of course, it’s horrible. That’s why they pay you a million dollars. If it was brilliant, you’d do it for free.’
Kurt Russell was on the verge of quitting Hollywood after the harrowing production on his previous flick, Tombstone, and his concerns with Stargate’s reception. Thankfully, the film went on to become a box office hit, grossing $156 million at the box office (adjusted to about $434 million in 2025), as Looper reports.
Stargate: Kurt Russell’s Sci-Fi Comeback Now a Cult Classic
Despite the film’s initial mixed reception, the sci-fi flick has withstood the test of time and is now heralded as a cult classic from the ’90s. The high-concept adventure was received well by audiences for its story. Here are key details about the film.
Stargate never reached the status of Star Wars or Star Trek, but its unique combination of ancient Egypt and aliens made the film unique with rich world-building. The success of the film led to Stargate SG-1 and many more spin-offs.
Kurt Russell’s performance in the film was praised for being a stoic hero, complementing James Spader’s eccentric character. Russell became the heart of the story, and we are glad that the actor did not turn down the script.
What do you think of Kurt Russell’s performance?
Stargate is available to stream on MGM+ in the U.S.
