15 November, 2000

3,000 Miles to Graceland

This can't be a good idea. Apparently Warner Bros. settled a dispute between actors Kurt Russell and Kevin Costner by allowing each of them to edit their own version of the heist flick 3,000 Miles to Graceland. The two versions were then shown to test audiences.

It looks like Costner's version, described as more action oriented, will be the version to hit theaters. Russell's version was more character driven, focusing on his character's romance with Courtney Cox. Costner is playing a villain for a change and his cut echoed that by being a much darker movie.

Warner's was happy to proceed this way because producer Elie Samaha has to pay all the production costs. Samaha has been having a bad year with a string of bombs including Battlefield Earth, Get Carter and The Art of War. Warners' will be keeping any and all domestic profits from 3,000 Miles to Graceland to make back losses on those other films.