Kevin Costner Opens Up About His Epic Cannes Western ‘Horizon’ and Addresses ‘Yellowstone’ Controversy

Kevin Costner has transformed his Santa Barbara home into a full-scale post-production hub, with one room dedicated to editing the first part of Horizon: An American Saga, which will debut at Cannes, another working on Part Two, and a third assembling a documentary about the making of the four-film series. Nearby, his sprawling 10-acre property has become the foundation for his long-cherished post-Civil War project. In this conversation, Costner reflects on the journey of bringing this serialized Western to life, following a group of characters venturing west, while also addressing the ongoing drama surrounding his exit from Yellowstone.

When asked how it feels to have one film nearly finished and headed to Cannes, with a second close behind, Costner responds thoughtfully, drawing on his own life philosophy:

KEVIN COSTNER: “It’s a hard question. Life is unpredictable. You never know when your time is up. You can go out for a drive, and suddenly, everything changes. I’ve experienced this firsthand with someone I admired, a movie lover, who passed away instantly. But for me, it’s not about completing everything. If I were taken tomorrow, I’d be content knowing I got to make the first two parts of Horizon. I’ve done what I wanted to do, and that’s what matters.”

On the topic of Horizon being his first film at Cannes, Costner recalls a prior trip there for the release of Open Range, but this will be his first time attending as a filmmaker. While he expresses hope for future festival appearances, like at the Venice Film Festival for the second film, he acknowledges the complex timing and logistics involved.

Discussing his and Francis Ford Coppola’s decision to self-finance their passion projects, Costner praises Coppola’s determination in putting $120 million of his own money into Megalopolis, despite skepticism. The two filmmakers, each taking significant personal financial risks, will both debut their films at Cannes this year.

KEVIN COSTNER: “Coppola is incredible. He’s putting everything on the line with Megalopolis. I’m on track to spend $98 million on Horizon, and when I complete the fourth film, it’ll push me over $100 million. You know, I could’ve chosen to work on more mainstream projects, but I wanted to take this risk.”

While Costner acknowledges the cushion provided by his Yellowstone salary, he discusses the long-term legacy he hopes to leave for his children, separate from the financial risks he’s taken. He’s clear about his intentions, even if it means not passing down all of his material possessions.

KEVIN COSTNER: “My kids will have a legacy, but they don’t need the wealth or the property. They just want me to live my life. They’ve seen me put everything into making this movie, and they understand that this is my choice, not a burden on them.”

When asked about his involvement with Yellowstone amidst the turmoil surrounding his exit, Costner shares his frustration over the situation:

KEVIN COSTNER: “I haven’t been happy with how things have been handled. The public narrative wasn’t truthful, and I need to set the record straight. I signed a contract for seasons five, six, and seven. After negotiations, they changed it to 5A and 5B, and maybe six if they could get to it. I fit Horizon into those gaps, but then they kept pushing those gaps around. Yellowstone was supposed to come first, but it’s been difficult with how things have unfolded.”