After joining forces for 1997’s The Saint, Val Kilmer and Elisabeth Shue are planning on reuniting for another movie. According to Moviehole, this time the dramatic duo is teaming up for a new western titled The Hard Ride.
Thadd Turner is writing and directing the project, which tells the story of “Wild Bill Hickok’s run-in with gambler Johnny Varnes in Deadwood.” Kilmer will play Varnes, who “allegedly paid off Jack McCall to kill ‘Wild Bill'”. Shue is set to play Agnes Lake, the late wife of Hickok. Ryan Merriman (Final Destination 3), Mark Rolston (Aliens), Wes Studi (Dances With Wolves) and Christopher Atkins have also been cast in the film.
We haven’t seen much from Turner in the ways of directing, his only other credits include the 2009 short Kids in the Yard as well as various acting and stunt jobs over the years. He does have the action adventure film Johnny Kid in production as well. The Hard Ride seems right up his alley considering he’s the author of a book titled Wild Bill Hickok: Deadwood City – End of Trail and was also awarded the 2010 Western Heritage Wrangler Award from the National Cowboy and Western Heritage Museum for portraying Wyatt Earp in the History Channel’s Cowboys and Outlaws: The Real Wyatt Earp.
Coincidentally, Kilmer just wrapped The First Ride of Wyatt Earp, in which he also played the famous outlaw Wyatt Earp. The match up of Kilmer and Thudd just seems too good. Although Kilmer‘s career has faltered over the past few years, he does have the western genre experience as well as the familiarity of having Shue as a co-star. Filming for The Hard Ride begins in April in New Mexico.
Are you interested in The Hard Ride?