“Kevin Costner and Susan Sarandon Reunite for ‘Bull Durham’ Throwback: A Heartfelt Catch-Up”

Kevin Costner and Susan Sarandon reunited at the 81st annual Venice Film Festival, marking a nostalgic moment 36 years after they starred together in the beloved baseball romance “Bull Durham.”

Costner, 69, shared a snapshot of their reunion on Instagram, writing, “There’s nothing like catching up with an old friend,” alongside a photo of the two beaming together. He added, “Great to see you [Susan Sarandon] we’ve come a long way since our ‘Bull Durham’ days.”

Costner attended the festival to premiere his Western epic, “Horizon: An American Saga – Chapter 2,” a film he starred in and directed. Despite the first part of the film receiving poor reviews and the second part being removed from the US box office schedule, it premiered at Venice.

The 1988 film “Bull Durham” featured Costner as Crash Davis, a veteran minor league catcher who mentors rookie pitcher Ebby Calvin “Nuke” LaLoosh, played by Tim Robbins. Sarandon earned a Golden Globe nomination for her role as Annie Savoy, a baseball groupie who finds herself romantically entangled with both characters. Off-screen, Sarandon and Robbins, who were together for over two decades and share two sons, began their relationship during the film’s production.

Costner reflected on their iconic kitchen scene in a 2019 interview, explaining how he used props for dramatic effect while keeping his focus on Sarandon. “I’m wiping things off without ever taking my eyes off [her]; I’m clearing the table and looking at her. I like taking a script and finding the physical aspects,” he said. “When you really want somebody, nothing makes a difference. ‘This crashed? Oh, the milk spilled? Who gives a s—?’”

Sarandon, speaking with the BUILD Series, described her role as a “really great part that she wasn’t overqualified for” and humorously mentioned that her children’s reaction to the film was mixed. “I looked over at my older son … And then my younger son, I said, ‘Well what did you think Miles?’ He said, ‘I thought it was great, mom. But scarring.’”

The film’s writer/director, Ron Shelton, revealed in a 2022 interview that Sarandon was almost not cast. “For some reason, the studio said Susan Sarandon was not on the list, which made no sense,” he said, describing how studio lists of bankable stars often influence casting decisions. Despite initial studio reluctance, Sarandon impressed with her audition. Shelton recounted, “She shows up dressed to kill in a red-and-white tube dress. She looked like a million bucks and had just gotten off a 10-hour flight. She was so great, we had to reconsider our casting choices.”