Kevin Costner Moves On from Old Projects to Focus on New Documentary Series
Kevin Costner Leaves Uninspiring Projects Behind, Focuses on New Docuseries The West
Kevin Costner is making it clear: he’s done investing time in projects that no longer ignite his passion. Following his high-profile exit from Yellowstone and the disappointing reception of Horizon: An American Saga – Chapter 1, the Oscar-winning actor and director is shifting focus to something that deeply resonates with him — an eight-part documentary series titled The West.
Costner emphasized that while he’s known for Westerns, he’s not limited to the genre. What matters to him now is emotional authenticity — both for himself and the audience. “I’m willing to do anything where I feel like what I’m doing is for myself,” he said. “It doesn’t have to be a Western, it could be something else.”
Still, he’s quick to move on from anything that no longer holds his interest. “It’s about how you’re telling the story, and whether others can relate to it,” he added. “That’s why certain stories and books live on — they resonate deeply and are passed down. That’s the kind of work I want to create.”
Costner also expressed a desire to stay relevant, not through calculated choices, but by staying true to his creative instincts. “I can’t create work thinking it’s going to find people. I create what reflects how I feel — and hope they’re moved by it.”
Far from slowing down, the 70-year-old has no plans to retire. “I don’t even think about retiring. I’ll just move on to the next thing that captures my imagination,” he previously shared.
That next thing includes stepping outside the Western genre entirely. Costner is set to star in and produce Headhunters, a surfing thriller he co-wrote with director and cinematographer Steven Holleran.
Costner’s departure from Yellowstone came after salary disputes and creative clashes with showrunner Taylor Sheridan. After nearly five seasons as John Dutton — a role that earned him a Golden Globe — his character was written out off-screen in Season 5B.
Meanwhile, Horizon, a long-standing passion project meant to explore the expansion of the American West during the Civil War, hit a rough patch. Following the poor performance of Chapter 1, the release of Chapter 2 was pulled, and the rest of the planned four-part saga is currently in limbo. Costner has also faced legal challenges related to the production.
What Is The West About?
Costner’s new docuseries, The West, delves into the transformation of the American West from the late 1700s to the 1800s. Through reenactments, expert insights, and narration by Costner himself, the series highlights the stories of settlers, Native American tribes, and historical figures who shaped — and were shaped by — this turbulent era.
The eight-episode series aired in the U.S. between May and June and earned a solid 7.1/10 rating on IMDb. It’s Costner’s third historical series, following 500 Nations and Billy the Kid: New Evidence.
