The Kevin Costner Project Spielberg Knew Was Doomed
Making a movie is tough. It’s not quite on the level of coal mining or performing open-heart surgery in a combat zone, but it’s definitely no glamorous stroll. For film stars, the experience might mostly involve relaxing in a comfortable trailer between takes, but for directors or hands-on producers, the reality is a constant grind of pressure and decision fatigue.
That’s the best-case scenario. The worst is setting yourself up for failure and facing serious consequences. Different directors have different dealbreakers—some hate working with kids or animals, others can’t handle the constraints of the studio system. For Steven Spielberg, the main challenge lies in filming outdoors.
But Spielberg’s track record shows he hasn’t let past setbacks slow him down. As one of the most successful filmmakers ever, with blockbuster hits dating back to the ‘70s, he’s proven to be a logistical genius. He’s tackled everything from oceans and space to dinosaurs, war zones, and even video game worlds. When Spielberg warns you a project is going to be difficult, it’s wise to listen.
Kevin Reynolds didn’t. In 1992, he took on the ambitious project Waterworld, starring Kevin Costner. The two had collaborated on three previous films, including the hit Robin Hood: Prince of Thieves, and were optimistic about this post-apocalyptic, high-seas adventure. Their vision was a kind of Mad Max on water—which sounds awesome in theory. But filming a massive production on the ocean is far trickier than shooting a low-budget indie in the Outback. Spielberg had already warned them about this.
Paul Rader, the screenplay writer, revealed that Spielberg cautioned Reynolds before filming began. When Reynolds explained his plan and asked for advice, Spielberg said, “Don’t shoot on open water. You’ll need a few shots on water, so let the second unit handle that. Do the rest in a water tank or on a soundstage.”
Spielberg’s advice came from hard experience. Jaws almost never got made because filming in open ocean turned a planned 50-day shoot into 155 days of chaos. Despite this, Reynolds was inspired by Jaws’ eventual success and ignored the warning.
Waterworld became infamous as one of the most expensive and chaotic movies ever produced. Its budget spiraled from $100 million to $175 million. Bad weather wrecked sets—including sinking one entire set that had to be rebuilt. Safety issues and rough seas made filming extremely difficult. The crew struggled to capture usable footage amid the rolling waves. Reynolds’ decision to ignore Spielberg’s advice turned him into a Hollywood cautionary tale that directors still study today.
