Kevin Costner’s never been one to play it safe, but sometimes, bold moves backfire. The Oscar-winning actor and director reportedly walked away from a major Disney deal that could’ve bankrolled his long-awaited dream project. In doing so, he may’ve cost himself the very creative freedom he’s always chased.
Known for following his gut over studio politics, Costner’s decision reflects both his passion and his stubborn streak. But with the opportunity now gone, we’re all left wondering: did he sacrifice a golden ticket for pride, or was it just another chapter in Hollywood’s most uncompromising career?
How Kevin Costner let $5 million sink Horizon, his $100 million passion project
Kevin Costner had a golden opportunity to bring Horizon to life with Disney’s backing, and he blew it. Over a $5 million budget gap, no less. That’s the kind of deal most filmmakers would kill for, but Costner’s legendary stubbornness took the wheel.
“I’m stubborn,” he later admitted to Deadline. And that might be the understatement of his career. After the success of Open Range, Disney was on board. But when they wouldn’t meet his full ask, Costner walked. The result: Horizon sat untouched for two decades, and when it finally saw the light of day, the first installment flopped.
This isn’t new for Costner. His boldness gave us Dances with Wolves, which won Best Picture and Best Director. But then came Waterworld. And The Postman. He funded both, and both sank hard. Still, the man kept betting on himself.
Even during his Yellowstone resurgence, which earned him a Golden Globe and brought him roaring back to relevance, Costner stepped away to double down on Horizon. Now, the second film is stalled, the third’s unfunded, and the fourth’s not even close.
He’s spent $38 million of his own money so far, with at least $100 million needed to finish the four-part saga. Ironically, the same Disney deal he walked away from could’ve covered all of it, with change to spare.
It’s hard not to admire Kevin Costner’s passion. But in this case, it’s also hard not to admit: he might be the one standing in his own way.
How Kevin Costner, Neil Young’s buffalo, and a box of Oreos made movie magic
Kevin Costner once directed a music legend’s pet buffalo, and all it took was a box of Oreos. While filming the unforgettable buffalo hunt scene in Dances with Wolves, he revealed that one of the star animals actually belonged to Neil Young.
The twist: The buffalo wasn’t exactly thrilled to be there. Raised away from a herd, the animal was skittish around the 3,500 wild ones thundering across the plains. Costner, trying to wrangle the scene, found out from Young that the trick was cookies. Shake a box of Oreos, and boom, camera-ready buffalo.
It worked. That stunning sequence helped Dances with Wolves sweep the 1991 Oscars, nabbing seven wins, including Best Picture and Best Director for Costner. It’s these quirky behind-the-scenes details that make great films even more legendary, and prove that sometimes, all it takes to make movie magic is a rock star’s buffalo and a sweet tooth.
Watch Horizon on Max & Prime Video.
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