Kurt Russell has apparently closed the door on any possibility of reuniting with Robert De Niro, more than three decades after the two actors appeared together in the 1991 film Backdraft.
While Hollywood has become increasingly fond of bringing familiar stars back together for sequels, remakes and new projects, Russell says another collaboration with De Niro is something he would rather avoid.
Russell reflected on their time working together and admitted that the experience remains memorable for all the wrong reasons.
“I’ve spent several weeks working alongside him many years ago and I remember how hard it was,” Russell said. “It seemed to me like it lasted much longer than it actually did.”
The actor recalled that De Niro frequently had concerns about the Backdraft screenplay, leading to lengthy conversations with the filmmakers during production.
“He had something to complain about the screenplay constantly,” Russell explained. “We spent much time discussing the film with the director, and sometimes it seemed like we were spending too much time talking about the movie than filming it.”
For Russell, the amount of discussion surrounding the script apparently became one of the defining memories of the production.
The comments come as Hollywood continues to revisit popular films from previous decades, with fans often wondering whether original cast members could reunite for another project.
But Russell appears to have little interest in repeating his experience with De Niro.
“No salary in the world will make me go through this experience one more time,” Russell emphasized. “I’ve had a very good career and had worked with some fantastic actors before. But I have no desire to go back there again. Bobby and I won’t be collaborating again.”
The two actors had very different roles in Backdraft. Russell portrayed firefighter Stephen McCaffrey, while De Niro played fire investigator Donald Rimgale. The film, directed by Ron Howard, centered on firefighters in Chicago and a series of mysterious fires.
The movie became a major theatrical release and remains one of the most recognizable firefighter films of its era.
Despite the success of the film, Russell’s recollection suggests that the production itself was not an experience he would willingly repeat.
Russell has enjoyed a long career spanning action films, comedies, dramas and cult classics. He has worked with numerous major Hollywood stars throughout his career, making it clear that his comments about De Niro are specifically connected to their previous working experience.
The actor did not suggest that he had any issue with revisiting other collaborations from his past. Instead, he appeared particularly firm when discussing the possibility of sharing the screen with De Niro again.
For fans of Backdraft, the comments may be disappointing. A reunion between the two actors would undoubtedly attract attention, especially given the film’s enduring popularity.
However, Russell seems to have already made his decision.
There is no indication that the pair are currently considering a new project together, and Russell’s latest comments suggest that he would prefer to keep their professional relationship where it ended.
For now, Backdraft remains the only major film in which Russell and De Niro appeared together.
And if Russell gets his way, it will stay that way.