“I lobbied hard”: the 1988 role Emilio Estevez said he was “born to play”
Emilio Estevez said he was “born to play” Billy the Kid in the 1988 western Young Guns, despite director Christopher Cain initially favouring Kiefer Sutherland for the role. Estevez strongly lobbied Cain, determined to play the lead rather than Doc Scurlock, and ultimately secured the part.
The casting gamble came as Estevez’s career needed a success after several poorly received projects, including That Was Then… This Is Now, Maximum Overdrive and Wisdom. Young Guns was not especially acclaimed, but it proved popular and profitable, helping revive his fortunes and distance him from the Brat Pack label.
- Estevez aggressively pursued the role of Billy the Kid.
- Director Christopher Cain initially preferred Kiefer Sutherland.
- Young Guns became a profitable career revival.