Business
The Unconventional Journey of Kevin Costner
Explore the unconventional journey of renowned actor and filmmaker Kevin Costner, from his humble beginnings to his rise to Hollywood stardom. Delve into the fascinating story of a versatile artist who has left an indelible mark on the entertainment industry.
There are few actors in the final chapter of their career who would turn down a consistent $1 million-an-episode payday to pursue the vagaries of the Wild West. Yet there are few actors who are as single-minded as Costner.
A Risky Endeavor
For the 69-year-old star and director, who has made a career of taking the road less traveled, has embarked on what many would call a foolhardy quest to turn his long-percolating story of the settling of the West post-Civil War into four theatrical films.
Financial and Personal Costs
It’s an endeavor he’s undertaking without the true support of Hollywood: No legacy studio wanted to finance his sprawling epic. Costner is investing $38 million of his own money into the project, causing a schism with the producers of “Yellowstone,” the television franchise that revitalized his career.
The Grand Experiment
There is no guarantee his grand experiment will succeed. “Horizon: An American Saga — Chapter 1” is set to debut Friday, followed by “Chapter 2” in theaters less than two months later. Both features cost in the $100 million range.
As he has put it, letting go was never an option. He first commissioned the script back in 1988 and after failed attempts, turned it into four movies. Costner mortgaged a 10-acre piece of undeveloped coastline in Santa Barbara to partly finance the films.