In 1993, Ron Howard was fired from his biggest movie yet. Four years later, it lost $70 million and won five Razzies
In 1993, Ron Howard was set to direct an adaptation of David Brin’s post-apocalyptic novel *The Postman*, with Tom Hanks starring. The project could have been Howard’s first film with a budget above $60 million, but Kevin Costner later took over as star and director, removing Howard and the original producer and screenwriter.
Released in 1997, Costner’s film was a major commercial and critical failure, reportedly losing more than $70 million. It won all five Razzies for which it was nominated, including Worst Picture, Worst Director and Worst Actor; whether Howard and Hanks would have made a more successful film remains unknowable.
In short
- Ron Howard was replaced on *The Postman* by Kevin Costner.
- The 1997 film lost more than $70 million.
- It won all five of its Razzie nominations.
Explained simply
David Brin’s novel The Postman is set after a catastrophe has broken down society in the United States. Its central idea is a traveller who uses a postman’s uniform and the promise of restored communication to bring hope to isolated communities.
Ron Howard, a director known for films such as Splash and Apollo 13, was originally attached to adapt the book, with Tom Hanks set to star. Kevin Costner, an actor and director whose films included Dances with Wolves, later took over the project and made the film released in 1997.
The story matters as an example of how a major film can change direction before production, and how a film’s commercial and critical reception can shape its reputation. The version Howard and Hanks might have made was never produced, so its likely success cannot be known.