Kevin Costner to Star and Co-Write in Surf Thriller ‘Headhunters’
Kevin Costner is gearing up for his next cinematic venture with the surf thriller Headhunters, teaming up with longtime collaborators and new creative partners.
The Academy Award-winning actor and his production company, Territory Pictures, have joined forces with Scott Steindorff and Stone Village Films to bring Headhunters to life. This project marks a shift for Costner, who has recently focused much of his energy on his sprawling Horizon: An American Saga franchise. Now, he’s diving into Headhunters as an actor, producer, and co-writer.
The film will mark the feature directorial debut of accomplished cinematographer Steven Holleran, who co-wrote the script with Costner. The story transports Costner far from his familiar settings of prairies and ranches—places he’s known for in projects like Yellowstone and Horizon—to the vibrant and dangerous world of Bali, Indonesia.
Headhunters is described as a thrilling blend of surf culture and horror suspense. Costner stars as Lazer, a washed-up American expat with a shadowy past, living in Bali. Lazer enlists a group of local surfers, led by Bima—a photographer played by Daniel Zovatto—to explore an uncharted island in search of the “perfect wave.” However, the island harbors an ancient tribe of headhunters fiercely protecting their territory. What begins as an adventurous quest soon spirals into a brutal survival story, transforming paradise into a nightmare.
Currently in pre-production in Hawaii with a planned shoot starting in November, Headhunters has already attracted significant attention. Studios and streaming platforms are competing for distribution rights, and casting is ongoing. Daniel Zovatto, known for standout roles in Station Eleven, The Pope’s Exorcist, and Penny Dreadful: City of Angels, has joined the cast as Lazer’s counterpart. Zovatto’s involvement reunites him with producer Steindorff, who executive produced Station Eleven and praises Zovatto as “one of the finest young actors in Hollywood.”
The project also highlights a reunion of close collaborators. Steindorff, who has long sought the right project to work on with Costner, expressed enthusiasm: “This is one of the best scripts I have seen in my career. Kevin is a legendary actor who brings incredible depth and charisma to his roles, and together with Steve, they’ve crafted an iconic horror script.”
Steindorff has previously worked with Holleran, who served as director of photography on Netflix’s Firechasers and the upcoming documentary In Search of Love. He praised Holleran’s vision, saying, “Steve pitched me this unique and original idea, and working with him has always been fantastic. I’m excited to shoot Headhunters this fall.”
Holleran called the project “an honor and dream come true,” reflecting on how his filmmaking journey began with shooting surf videos in California as a teenager. “Headhunters brings together my three lifelong passions — surfing, filmmaking, and adventure — in a way that feels full circle.”
The creative team also includes cinematographer Ericson Core (Point Break, The Fast and the Furious), production designer Derek Hill (Ozark, Pirates of the Caribbean: The Curse of the Black Pearl), and costume designer Lisa Lovaas (Horizon 1: An American Saga, Renfield). The producing team features Howard Kaplan (Territory Pictures), Dylan Russell and Lindsay Davis (Stone Village Films), with Jenna Ajlouny as co-producer and Eric Hays serving as physical producer.
