Production
The film was originally conceived by Imagine Entertainment, with Ron Howard in the director's chair and partner Brian Grazer as producer. Russell Crowe was originally cast as Sam Houston, Ethan Hawke as William Barret Travis and Billy Bob Thornton as David Crockett. But there were financial and creative disagreements between Imagine and Disney, particularly with Howard wanting a $200 million budget. Disney rejected Imagine's proposals, and Crowe and Hawke left the project. Disney opted for director John Lee Hancock and a budget between $95–107 million. Thornton remained with the project as Crockett, while Howard and Grazer were credited as producers.
The exterior scenes of the film were shot in Texas, between January-June 2003, mostly on Reimers Ranch, near Austin. The film's art direction focused on historical accuracy and verisimilitude; for instance, the mission's chapel facade is not topped with the iconic "hump", an architectural detail added during a restoration years after the battle.
The film was shot in 2003 and scheduled for release in December of that year, but was rescheduled for April 2004.
Read more about this topic: The Alamo (2004 film)
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