Movie star KURT RUSSELL was at the end of a long list of actors considered for the lead role in QUENTIN TARANTINO's new GRINDHOUSE movie DEATH PROOF - after MICKEY ROURKE and VING RHAMES turned the villainous role down.
The actor admits he's well aware he wasn't Tarantino's first choice to play STUNTMAN MIKE but he's just glad he got the call.
He says, "I know Mickey was a possibility and he was really close to doing it and I think Ving Rhames was close to doing it too. I think there were a number of actors who were probably close to doing it at different times.
"That kinda thing doesn't really bother me and I'm sure there's a lot of movies I've come close to doing, and, for whatever reason, I didn't and somebody else did it.
"I'm just glad I got the opportunity to work with Quentin."