“Kevin Costner: ‘I Make Movies for Men, but My Strong Female Characters Are Why I Have a Strong Following’”
Kevin Costner recently joined the cast of his upcoming film “Horizon: An American Saga” for a live recording of the “Happy Sad Confused” podcast, where he discussed how his planned four-movie saga stands out from traditional Western films. According to Costner, the saga is distinctive because its female characters are central to every storyline. He explained that he “couldn’t conceive of a scene that didn’t involve a woman” while crafting the narrative.
“Horizon” explores the lives of various characters during and after the Civil War as they settle the American West. Costner stars alongside a diverse ensemble cast including Sienna Miller, Jena Malone, Isabelle Fuhrman, Abbey Lee, and Ella Hunt. During the podcast, Costner acknowledged that his films typically have a male-focused appeal but emphasized his commitment to featuring strong female characters. “I make movies for men. That’s what I do,” Costner said. “But I won’t make a movie unless it has strong women characters. That’s how I’ve conducted my career. I think that’s why I have a good following. I thank you women for dragging your men here. It was a Western after all. I just can’t conceive of a movie without having strong women.”
In a recent appearance on “The Kelly Clarkson Show,” Costner elaborated on the importance of female perspectives in “Horizon.” He noted, “This film features a tremendous number of women who play pivotal roles in the story of the West. Many of these women were brought out there under duress, with their children, believing in a promised land that didn’t exist. Instead, they faced the harsh reality of settling among people who had lived there for thousands of years. These women endured incredible hardships and yet their stories are often missing from Westerns. In ‘Horizon,’ they are front and center.”
Alongside the “Horizon” saga (with the first film set to premiere on June 28 from Warner Bros., followed by the second on August 16), Costner’s directorial credits include “Dances With Wolves,” which earned him Oscars for Best Picture and Best Director, as well as “The Postman” and “Open Range.”
Check out the full “Happy Sad Confused” podcast episode featuring Costner and the “Horizon” cast in the video below.
