DC Comics-based western/horror adventure Jonah Hex hit theaters back in 2010 to dreadful reviews (12% on Rotten Tomatoes), and ended up taking in just $11 million worldwide on a $47 million budget.
Those involved with bringing the supernatural gunslinger to the screen have spoken about what they feel went wrong with the movie numerous times in the past, including star Josh Brolin, who has said that he blames himself for getting behind a director (Jimmy Hayward) with so little experience.
“Then you meet somebody who has a lot of knowledge, Jimmy Hayward, and I remember it didn’t feel right,” Brolin said in a previous interview with Variety. “I loved that he was excited, but he just didn’t have the experience and he didn’t treat it like I would imagine somebody would want to treat it — to run back to their house at the end of their every day and watch tonal inspirations and Scorsese movies or this or that. He would be out partying instead.”
While discussing his role as the returning Gurney Halleck in Dune: Part Two during an interview with GQ, Brolin was asked about his experiences on Jonah Hex, and admitted that he'll probably continue to bash the movie at every opportunity!
“I won’t ever stop shitting on Jonah Hex because it was a shitty f*cking movie!”
However, the actor did add that he no longer held any ill feelings for Hayward, who reconnected with him recently and apologized for his part in the movie's failings. The filmmaker also revealed that he's been battling bone cancer.
“It reminded me [that] you can’t just keep shitting on somebody,” Brolin said. “I don’t know what the f*ck’s going on in his life. I mean, total facial reconstruction, the whole thing.”
A different take on Hex appeared in The CW's Legends of Tomorrow series, but whether the character will ever be a part of the new DCU (an Elseworlds tale, perhaps?) remains to be seen.
"Having cheated death, gunslinger and bounty hunter Jonah Hex (Josh Brolin) has one foot in the natural world and one in the supernatural. His unusual nature gives him the ability to track down anyone or anything, so the Army makes him an irresistible offer: It will erase the warrants on his head if he will find Quentin Turnbull (John Malkovich). Turnbull, his oldest enemy, is preparing to unleash hell on Earth and will stop at nothing to kill him."