“Kevin Costner Reveals Why He Deviated from His Own Rule to Cast Son Hayes in ‘Horizon'”

When casting a role in his new film Horizon: An American Saga, Kevin Costner felt his 15-year-old son, Hayes, was an ideal choice.

On the June 17 episode of Today, Costner, 69, expressed his admiration for Hayes, noting, “He’s a beautiful boy and he’s quiet.” However, casting Hayes was a departure from Costner’s usual stance on involving his children in his projects.

“I’ve deliberately kept my children out of the business,” Costner explained. “There are many young actors who would jump at the chance to be in this movie, and I didn’t want to take opportunities away from them just because I could cast my own kids. But for this smaller role, I selfishly wanted him with me for the time he was needed.”

Despite Hayes’ limited acting experience, Costner was impressed with his performance, calling it “really beautiful.” In the film’s trailer, Hayes’ character is seen concealing his mother and sister in a hidden compartment during an attack on their home, showing a self-sacrificial bravery. “It’s a really complex scene,” Costner said, describing the moment to Savannah Guthrie. “There’s a nobility and a profound fatalism to it. It’s the kind of choice you hope your son would make, and although you’d rather he didn’t have to, you’re proud that he would.”

The casting choice was also meaningful for Costner, as he named his son after the film’s lead character, Hayes Ellison, after working on the project for over three decades. “Watching him grow up made me realize I needed to finish this movie,” Costner told Entertainment Tonight in April.

Costner shares Hayes, along with Cayden, 17, and Grace, 14, with his ex-wife Christine Baumgartner. He also has adult children Annie, 40, Lily, 37, and Joe, 36, with ex-wife Cindy Silva, and son Liam, 26, with ex Bridget Rooney. Last month, Hayes and four of his siblings accompanied Costner on the Cannes Film Festival red carpet, where the film received a 10-minute standing ovation.

During the May 22 episode of Jimmy Kimmel Live!, Costner recounted the family’s experience in France. “I got them tuxedos and dresses and wanted them to support me,” he said. The trip also served as a mini-vacation, with his sons going fishing and his daughters enjoying a boat trip. “They ended up coming back around eight o’clock after having drinks,” Costner shared. “I said, ‘We came to France as a family,’ and they replied, ‘It’s working great, Dad. What’s next?’ I told them we needed a tour guide to figure that out.”