Kevin Costner knows his audience.
The 69-year-old Oscar winner recently admitted he’s aware his films tend to appeal more to men, but he stresses the need for “strong women” alongside the casting of his new film, “Horizon: An American Saga.
“I make films for men. That’s what I do,” Costner remarked on the June 27 episode of “Happy Sad Confused.”
“But I won’t make a film without having strong female characters, and that’s how I’ve led my career. I think that’s why I have a good audience,” he added. “Thank you women for training your men here – it was a western after all. I just can’t design a film without having (strong women).
Costner’s latest project features a strong female cast, including Sienna Miller, Isabelle Fuhrman, Jena Malone, Abbey Lee and more.
Costner, who wrote, directed, produced and starred in the film, said he “couldn’t conceive of a scene that didn’t involve a woman” when he was writing the film’s script alongside Jon Baird.
He then highlighted why women are so important to the story of “Horizon” on “The Kelly Clarkson Show” on June 24.
“There are an awful lot of women in this movie,” Costner said at the time. “They play a very important role in the West and what happened there. They were often taken there against their will, with their children, with the idea that there was something great there. There was nothing there except a group of people who had lived there for thousands of years. »
He continued: “Women were drugged in the most terrible circumstances and made it work. And somehow they don’t end up in Westerns and in ‘Horizon,’ they dominate.”
Costner has a history of collaborating with strong female leads, most notably Whitney Houston in 1992’s “The Bodyguard.” Even 30 years later, Costner still praises the late musician after working with her.
“She’s really smart. It was a film I probably should have directed. I just thought someone could do a better job. But he wasn’t comfortable with her,” he said of Houston and director Mick Johnson on the “Armchair Expert” podcast on June 3. “She was my choice. So I was the actor. I produced it. I chose it.
Additionally, Costner confirmed that a sequel to “The Bodyguard” was in the works with Princess Diana as a co-star at the time.
“What happened was I started talking to her through Sarah (Ferguson), and I said, ‘Listen, I’m going to do Bodyguard 2 and I think I can build it around you. Would you be interested?'” he recalled on the June 18 episode of “The Howard Stern Show.”
“And she said, ‘Yes. My life is about to change. I didn’t really delve into it, but I thought I understood what she was saying,” he added.
Diana’s tragic death in August 1997, at the age of 36, led to the film’s cancellation.
“I couldn’t replace Princess Di,” he said. “Kind of like if I hadn’t been able to do Bodyguard with Whitney, I don’t think I was going to make it with anyone.”
After announcing his official departure from “Yellowstone” on June 20, Costner is now focusing on his western “Horizon: An American Saga.”
“Thinking about Yellowstone, this beloved show that I love, that I know you love, I just realized that I won’t be able to continue, not season 5 or in the future,” the actor said.
Costner said his leave was “necessary” after a “long year and a half of working on ‘Horizon’ and doing everything.” However, rumors of friction between Costner and series creator Taylor Sheridan have been circulating since rumors of the actor’s departure began in May 2023.
On CBS Mornings on June 27, Gayle King pushed the actor to his limits by asking him about his official departure from “Yellowstone.” She asked him if “Horizon” was causing him any problems on the show and if there was any ego conflict between him and Sheridan.
Costner replied: “I love the show.”
“I loved the show before anyone else. It was Taylor and I. The truth never changes – that love was very strong. The idea of going back – I would do it in a heartbeat if I felt like I did… If it was something I could do, that I wanted to do, I would do it,” he added.
Although Costner clearly avoided the question, the veteran journalist explained why he and Sheridan had not been “able to work it out.”
“But your description is not necessarily flattering,” King told him. “You made requests, you want to have a certain schedule, you want to shoot at a certain time, you want a certain money.”
King added: “If it’s not that difficult, why can’t you two do it?” People would love to see that.
“This isn’t therapy, Gayle. I mean, we’re not going to talk about it on the show,” Costner responded.
King insisted she was “a good therapist,” but Costner reiterated that he had led his life “in a pretty simple way” and had “never missed any obligations” throughout. throughout his career.
Sheridan, 54, commented on his relationship with Costner last year, admitting he was disappointed with Costner’s departure.
In a June 2023 interview with The Hollywood Reporter, Sheridan said, “My opinion of Kevin as an actor hasn’t changed. »
“His creation of John Dutton is symbolic and powerful… and I’ve never had a problem with Kevin that he and I couldn’t sort out on the phone,” he continued. “But once the lawyers get involved, people can’t talk to each other and start saying things that aren’t true and trying to pin the blame on how the press or the public seems to react. He’s taken a lot of flak and I don’t know if anyone deserves it.”
Sheridan also reviewed Costner’s “Horizon: An American Saga.”
“His film seems to be a big priority for him and he wants to change direction. I certainly hope (the film) is worth it – and that it’s good,” Sheridan said.
The first half of “Yellowstone” Season 5 aired between November 2022 and January 2023. The final six episodes are currently filming and are scheduled to debut on November 10.
“Horizon: An American Saga” is currently in theaters.