Last Train to Fortune is finally pulling into the VOD station. The long-gestating Western comedy will be available to rent or buy digitally on Nov. 6. Surprisingly, the journey from point A to point B spanned a whopping four decades.
The Voyage to Fortune
Michele Rifkin penned the script for Last Train to Fortune in 1986, as part of a PBS contest (which Rifkin won). Acting titan Malcolm McDowell soon boarded the project, with Bill Paxton joining the fray in 1991, when production was supposed to kick off. Lindsay Anderson, best known for helming the Mick Travis Trilogy starring McDowell, was attached to direct.
However, Anderson passed away in 1994, which effectively stalled the film. Producer Brad Wyman, McDowell, and Paxton were ready to resume preparations for Last Train to Fortune until the latter’s unexpected death in 2017 understandably derailed production.
In 2023, it was reported that James Paxton, Paxton’s son, was cast in his late father’s role as Jedidiah Dooley, the outlaw who strikes a deal and develops “an odd friendship” with McDowell’s Cecil Peachtree. Mary Steenburgen, Bernadette Peters, and Laura Marano boarded the movie as Miss Maybelle, Miss Lily, and Amanda, respectively. Producer Adam Rifkin, Rifkin’s son, stepped in as director.
The official synopsis is as follows: “An uptight schoolteacher and a fearsome outlaw form an uncommon bond as they embark on a perilous journey to the Old West town of Fortune.”
According to McDowell, Wyman facilitated the Western comedy’s revival, with McDowell pitching James as Dooley. After a table read of the script, “James proved to be an inspired choice.”
James spoke about his experience in the movie to the Fort Worth Star-Telegram, including the weight of accepting a role originally meant for his dad. “It ended up falling into place in a beautiful way. I think in a way that dad would actually have appreciated and said, ‘This is how it was always meant to be. This was your role,'” he said.
‘Last Train to Fortune’s Release and Reception
Last Train to Fortune finally made its world premiere at Ojai Playhouse on Nov. 8, 2025, followed by a wider release in the U.S. on Sept. 18, 2026. The Western was well-received by critics, earning 86% on the Rotten Tomatoes Tomatometer and an impressive 100% on the Popcornmeter.
You can rent or buy Last Train to Fortune on Apple TV, Google Play, Fandango, YouTube, and Hoopla, starting on Nov. 6, 2026.
