“After $100M ‘Horizon’ Fail and Leaving ‘Yellowstone,’ Kevin Costner, 70, Makes Surprising Career Move”
Kevin Costner, 70, Makes Unexpected Career Move After ‘Yellowstone’ Exit and $100M ‘Horizon’ Setback
Oscar-winning actor Kevin Costner has just made a surprising move in his career following a challenging chapter marked by the collapse of his long-time passion project and a dramatic exit from one of TV’s most popular series.
A New Chapter: Costner’s Comeback
Amazon MGM Studios announced on Monday that Costner, 70, will star in the upcoming dramedy “Honeymoon with Harry” alongside Jake Gyllenhaal, 44. The film is based on Bart Baker’s 2016 novel and will be directed by Glenn Ficarra and John Requa, best known for Crazy, Stupid, Love.
The plot follows a man who, after his fiancée dies just two days before their wedding, decides to go on the honeymoon with her would-be father-in-law — a role that Costner is set to play.
This marks Costner’s first major role since the box office disappointment of Horizon: An American Saga.
The ‘Horizon’ Disappointment
Horizon was Costner’s passion project — a four-part Western saga that he had been developing for decades. The first installment premiered on June 28, 2024, but failed to resonate at the box office despite its sweeping cinematography and epic scope.
Still, Costner remained proud of the final product, stating:
“I’m really happy that Horizon looks like what it’s supposed to look like on the big screen. That’s really important to me in this process.”
He added that while he had hoped for more success, his priority was making a film that fulfilled his vision:
“Would I love for it to be highly, highly successful? Of course. My ego would like that; everyone would like that. But I am happiest that the movie looks the way I wanted it to.”
The failure of Horizon was particularly tough given that Costner had left the hit series Yellowstone to make it.
The Bitter ‘Yellowstone’ Exit
Costner’s departure from Yellowstone was widely publicized — and not without controversy. He reportedly declined to return for the second half of the show’s fifth and final season due to scheduling conflicts with Horizon.
As a result, his iconic character John Dutton was written off offscreen, frustrating fans who had hoped for a proper sendoff.
Costner Isn’t Slowing Down
Despite these setbacks, Costner has no intention of retiring. In a June interview, he confirmed that he’s still driven by creativity and curiosity.
“I don’t even think about retiring, because I’ll just move to the next thing that captures my imagination,” he said, adding that it’s not a boss, but his own imagination that guides his choices.
Costner also spoke about his approach to life and work:
“I’ve felt really lucky in my life. I’d like to think that I worked for all of it, but not everybody can live by the same blueprint.”
When asked about his career goals or a “bucket list,” Costner clarified:
“I don’t have those things. I have that list, [but] I don’t refer to it that way. But certainly my eyes and my enthusiasms are wide open and very big.”
He concluded with a note on time and purpose:
“It’s about time. It’s a rush to get to all of them. What can I be about, what makes a difference — not only to me, but to other people?”
Looking Ahead
Though recent years may not have gone as planned for Costner, his new role in Honeymoon with Harry signals a fresh direction — one that blends heartfelt storytelling with a strong cast and experienced directors.
Fans may have been disappointed by Horizon and his offscreen Yellowstone exit, but Costner clearly isn’t done yet. And based on his words and actions, he’s not interested in repeating the past — he’s focused on what’s next.
We’re looking forward to seeing where this new chapter takes him.
