How old is James Paxton? Late Bill Paxton’s son to take up his role in upcoming movie Last Train to Fortune

Bill Paxton was an American actor, musician, and filmmaker known for his roles in films like Aliens, Apollo 13, and A Simple Plan. He was also on TV Shows like Big Love, Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D., and Hatfields & McCoys.

Bill Paxton's son, James Paxton, has also been an actor since 2003, debuting with a brief role in Spy Kids 3: Game Over. The 30-year-old James Paxton recently took on the role of outlaw Jedidiah Dooley in the upcoming movie Last Train to Fortune.

This was a part originally intended for his father in the Malcolm McDowell-starring Western film. Malcolm McDowell told PEOPLE,

"I said, 'I've always loved that script. It's such a beautiful script, really. Why don't we get James Paxton to do it?' He'd be the same age as his dad was, almost. A little bit younger, but even better,"

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James Paxton takes over role in Last Train to Fortune meant for his late father, Bill Paxton

Originally, the film was intended to be produced with Bill Paxton in the role of Jedidiah Dooley during the 1990s and directed by Lindsay Anderson. But Lindsay Anderson passed away in 1994 before even production could start.

Bill Paxton, battling a damaged heart valve from a childhood illness, underwent surgery in February 2017 at a Los Angeles hospital. Sadly, Bill Paxton passed away from a stroke at 61.

Now, James has taken up the role intended for his father and plays the character Jedidiah Dooley alongside Malcolm McDowell. McDowell said to PEOPLE,

"So we did a read-through at my house and I think everybody went 'Wow.' It's pretty good when you hear it aloud for the first time."

James had already been actively participating in the film and TV show industry for more than ten years, and his filmography includes Training Day, The Cleaner, and others. He also appeared in Twisters, a sequel to one of his father’s successful productions. James played a younger version of John Garrett, his father's character, on the TV show Agents of S. H. I. E. L. D.

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What is Last Train to Fortune about?

Last Train to Fortune, set in the early 1870s, stars McDowell as Cecil Peachtree, a schoolteacher traveling across the Old West for a new teaching job. When he misses his train, he teams up with an outlaw, Jedidiah Dooley, played by James Paxton. The unlikely pair travel together, with Cecil introducing Jedidiah to his collection of literary classics, highlighting the importance of reading and education.

Talking to PEOPLE, McDowell described the younger Paxton as "pretty levelheaded" and "a very fine young actor."

He added, "I do think he's a very dedicated, wonderful actor and we had so much fun. I mean, he says it's like a father-son thing. I thought it was two mates having a go, you know? I thought their relationship turned out to be really delicious."

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Directed by Adam Rifkin and written by Michele Rifkin, Last Train to Fortune is expected to debut this fall.