In 2006, Russell claimed in one interview that he had ghost-directed the hit 1993 western film "Tombstone" on behalf of credited director George P. Cosmatos, saying he gave Cosmatos shot lists. Russell claimed Sylvester Stallone recommended Cosmatos to him after the removal of the first director, writer Kevin Jarre, but Cosmatos had also worked with "Tombstone" executive producer Andrew G. Vajna before on "". Russell said he promised Cosmatos he would keep it a secret as long as Cosmatos was alive; Cosmatos died in April 2005. Russell said he didn't get a chance to edit his version, but Vajna gave him a tape of "everything on the movie" and that he might try to "reconstruct the movie", although he would need to go back to the script and all his notes.