Kevin Costner passionately crafted 'Horizon', a film he's long aspired to bring to life.
"It's nearly three hours, mate, he shared with CNN in a recent chat over a steamy cuppa during a bustling press tour. He ain't mincing words about that.
If you've got the minutely details of this movie's runtime, it'd be Kevin Costner. He's the bloke penning the script, producing, directing, and starring in this epic western set around the American Civil War era. Costner's been trying to get this project off the ground for years, and he's unfazed by concerns that the length might be off-putting for those with short attention spans.
"I make movies to keep folks engaged, not bored. I give 'em a fresh perspective, which is probably why it takes a while for 'em to get made 'cause they're a bit different," he said.
It's a mighty ambitious project, alright. There are four films planned, with the first one dropping on June 28 and the second hitting theaters on August 16. The first film sets the stage for a clash between settlers and the indigenous folks who already call the West home.
Costner's currently filming the third movie.
"These tales and these characters, their lives keep unfolding, their situations get even more dire, more gripping, more at stake. And because we know them and care about them, the third one I'm filming right now is incredibly dynamic," he said.
Fans of Costner's 1990 flick "Dances with Wolves" and his role in "Yellowstone" know his love for westerns. He attributes it to the inherent "drama" of these settings.
"If we could just close our eyes and imagine, realize how tough it was to venture west, but you were also encountering people who'd lived there for thousands of years and weren't ready to let go... There was no law out there, nothing to protect you. The only thing that was pushing you west was this hunger in America to own something, to hold onto it if you were brave enough and bold enough to defend it," he said.
"That kind of mindset is a recipe for conflict and nothing but clash. And making that simple would be dull. But if you make it complex, showing the struggles folks faced back then, it can be quite entertaining," Costner added.
This mix of history and a stellar cast had Costner excited, as he directs the likes of Abbey Lee, Sienna Miller, Sam Worthington, Jena Malone, Luke Wilson, and more. It's the kind of film he's longed to watch and create.
So with all the work directing entails, why did Costner also decide to take on the role of cowboy Hayes Ellison in the film? It was all about the personal connection, he said.
"I felt like I was the right man for this role. I even named my son after him, and he's in the movie too. It's been a journey for me as well. I just believe in the power of movies," Costner said.
Though he's no historian, Costner acknowledges the importance of releasing films set pre- and post-Civil War at a time when America feels divided. He's hopeful that his project will prompt audiences to ponder on how the states became unified in the first place.
"What needs to occur in any culture, life is a sense of empathy, a sense of history, a deep understanding. And you can have empathy when you understand history. It's like we're all in this together, and we can thrive. If we don't, we'll be divided," he said.
Kevin Costner's "Horizon: An American Saga" hits theaters on June 28. The film is distributed by Warner Bros., much like CNN, part of Warner Bros. Discovery.
