Bill Paxton was 61 when he passed away in February 2017. His legacy, however, continues to live on, especially in the upcoming movie “Last Train to Fortune.” The late “Twister” star’s son, James Paxton, has been cast to play the role of outlaw Jedidiah Dooley, a part his father was originally meant to portray in the Malcolm McDowell-starring Western.
Malcolm McDowell, who has been trying to get the movie made for decades, shared with PEOPLE that he had initially lined up Bill Paxton and a director for the film back in 1994. Unfortunately, the director, Lindsay Anderson, passed away, halting the project. McDowell revisited the idea in recent years and thought of James Paxton for the role. “I said, ‘I’ve always loved that script. It’s such a beautiful script, really,'” McDowell recalled. “‘Why don’t we get James Paxton to do it?’ He’d be the same age as his dad was, almost. A little bit younger, but even better.'”
James Paxton, now 30, has been working in the industry for over a decade, with credits including “Training Day,” “Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D.,” and “The Cleaner.” He also has a part in “Twisters,” the sequel to one of his father’s most popular movies, “Twister.” James had previously mentioned that he would appear in the sequel as a way of paying tribute to his father.
In “Last Train to Fortune,” McDowell stars as Cecil Peachtree, a schoolteacher traveling across the Old West in the early 1870s to take on a new teaching job. When he misses his train, he meets Jedidiah Dooley, played by James Paxton, and they strike a deal to travel together. The odd couple develops a relationship as Cecil shares his knowledge of literary classics with Jedidiah.
McDowell described the younger Paxton as “pretty levelheaded” and “a very fine young actor.” He added, “I do think he’s a very dedicated, wonderful actor and we had so much fun. I mean, he says it’s like a father-son thing. I thought it was two mates having a go, you know? I thought their relationship turned out to be really delicious.”
“Last Train to Fortune” is set to be released in the fall, while “Twisters” is scheduled to come out on July 17.
More than seven years after Bill Paxton’s death, his son James is stepping into a role his father originally meant to star in. Malcolm McDowell shared with PEOPLE that his upcoming movie “Last Train to Fortune,” expected to debut this fall, co-stars James in a role that Bill would have originally portrayed. McDowell, 81, has been waiting decades to make this film.
“I said, ‘I’ve always loved that script. It’s such a beautiful script, really. Why don’t we get James Paxton to do it?’ He’d be the same age as his dad was, almost. A little bit younger, but even better,” McDowell recalled. He originally intended to make “Last Train to Fortune” with late director Lindsay Anderson in the early 1990s. Anderson died in 1994 before production could start, and Bill Paxton, who died in February 2017 at 61, was originally slated to star opposite McDowell.
“We did a read-through at my house and I think everybody went ‘Wow.’ It’s pretty good when you hear it aloud for the first time,” McDowell said. He added that James is “pretty levelheaded” and “a very fine young actor.” “Of course, [there is] the weight of his dad, but that’s every day in life he’s had that, and he’s a very fine young actor.”
In “Last Train to Fortune,” McDowell plays a schoolteacher traveling across the Old West in the early 1870s to take on a new teaching job in a new town. He misses a train and teams up with an outlaw, played by James Paxton, to travel together. The film emphasizes the importance of reading in education as the schoolteacher introduces the outlaw to his collection of literary classics.
“I do think he’s a very dedicated, wonderful actor and we had so much fun. I mean, he says it’s like a father-son thing. I thought it was two mates having a go, you know? I thought their relationship turned out to be really delicious,” McDowell said. “You never know what chemistry is going to be, you just never know. But I really felt very comfortable with James and I know he did with me. We just bonded really well.”
“Last Train to Fortune,” directed by Adam Rifkin and written by his mother Michele Rifkin, is expected to debut this fall.
James Paxton is also booked for a role in “Twisters,” the sequel to one of his famous father’s movies. Bill Paxton’s legacy will live on as his son steps in to fill in for his late father’s role in “Last Train to Fortune.” Entertainment Weekly reported that James Paxton is slated to play outlaw Jedidiah Dooley, the role of his father, in the upcoming film starring Malcolm McDowell.
In a recent interview with People Magazine, McDowell revealed that he’s been making moves for the movie for the past decades. In 1994, he even booked Bill and a director for it, but director Lindsay Anderson died. As “Last Train to Fortune” is finally making its way to production, McDowell touched upon the casting matters. “I said, ‘I’ve always loved that script. It’s such a beautiful script, really,'” he said, “‘Why don’t we get James Paxton to do it?’ He’d be the same age as his dad was, almost. A little bit younger, but even better.”
Bill Paxton passed away on February 20, 2017, after complications from surgery at the age of 61. By then, his son had made his mark in the same industry with over a decade of experience. James, 30, has credits including “Training Day,” “The Cleaner,” and “Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D.” In addition to honoring his father by taking his role in “Last Train to Fortune,” the younger Paxton also has a part in “Twisters.” He previously said that he would appear in the sequel to pay tribute to his dad.
James Paxton was brought on by Malcolm McDowell to take on the role originally meant for his late father, Bill Paxton, in the upcoming Western titled “Last Train to Fortune.” The “Clockwork Orange” actor, 81, discussed how the idea of James portraying an outlaw named Dooley came about. Bill Paxton, known for his roles in projects such as “Titanic” (1997) and “Twister” (1996), passed away at the age of 61 after suffering a stroke in February 2017.
“I said, ‘I’ve always loved that script. It’s such a beautiful script, really. Why don’t we get James Paxton to do it?'” McDowell expressed during an interview with People. “He’d be the same age as his dad was, almost. A little bit younger, but even better,” the British-born star continued.
“Last Train to Fortune” has been in the making for decades, with late Lindsay Anderson originally slated to direct the film in the early 1990s. Anderson passed away at the age of 71 in France in 1994 before production began on the Western. Malcolm also talked about working alongside James, who has starred in various projects throughout his budding career, including “Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D.” (2020), “Eyewitnesses” (2016), and the upcoming action thriller “Twisters” (2024).
“We did a read-through at my house and I think everybody went ‘Wow.’ It’s pretty good when you hear it aloud for the first time,” McDowell said. He added of Bill Paxton’s son, “I must say that he’s pretty levelheaded. Of course, [there is] the weight of his dad, but that’s every day in life he’s had that, and he’s a very fine young actor.”
In the Western, McDowell took on the role of a schoolteacher named Cecil Peachtree, while Paxton portrayed Dooley, an outlaw. The premise follows the pair as they strike a deal and develop an odd friendship along the road to Fortune after having to deal with gunfights, jailbreaks, and saloon gals on the way.
Other stars cast in the movie, which is slated to premiere later this year in the fall, include Mary Steenburgen, Bernadette Peters, and Laura Marano. Steenburgen and McDowell previously starred together in past films such as “Time After Time” (1979) and “Cross Creek” (1983). The two were also married from 1980 through 1990.
On reuniting with his ex-wife, Malcolm revealed to People, “I didn’t really know how it would be, but from the first moment we started rehearsing it was like putting on a pair of comfortable slippers. Just the working experience was so comfortable and so ‘I’ve got your back,’ that kind of thing,” he explained.
After working together on “Time After Time,” the two stars sparked up a romance, with Malcolm recalling, “We both kind of fell in love on that film, but we’re both now with other partners and very happy.” Steenburgen later tied the knot with Ted Danson in 1995, while the British-born star married Kelley Kuhr in 1991.
“Last Train to Fortune” is directed by Adam Rifkin while the script was written by his mother, Michele Rifkin, over three decades earlier. While discussing finally bringing the Western to the screen, the director told Deadline, “I say with utter confidence this is one of the most powerful performances Malcolm McDowell has given in his storied career. And James Paxton is a revelation.”
Malcolm also talked about the project and explained, “Peachtree is one of the most fun and satisfying characters I’ve ever played. Plus, the theme that we’re never too old or too young to change, is universal. The story is sweet, funny, and heartfelt.” He further expressed, “I’ve waited 60 years to do a Western so I’m thrilled my first one gets to be ‘Last Train to Fortune!'”
James reflected on having the opportunity to fill the role initially meant to be taken on by his late father. “Excited to be working with a master like Malcolm McDowell, we’re having a blast. I’ve also been a longtime fan of Adam Rifkin’s and am over the moon to be working with him as well.”
Bill Paxton had starred in a number of films during his successful Hollywood career, such as “Aliens” (1986), “True Lies” (1994), and “Apollo 13” (1995). He was also no stranger to the Western genre, appearing in the critically acclaimed movie “Tombstone” (1993). On February 11, 2017, the actor passed away at the age of 61 after suffering from a stroke, 11 days after undergoing surgery to replace a heart valve and repair aorta damage.
The following year, his family filed a wrongful death lawsuit against the surgeon at Cedars-Sinai Medical Center, alleging he had used a “high risk and unconventional surgical approach.” In February 2022, Bill’s family reached a $1 million settlement with a medical group and later that same year in August, reached an additional settlement with the hospital.
Source: PEOPLE, Entertainment Weekly, Deadline
