While the latest rumors have Kevin Costner nearing bankruptcy because of his failed ‘Horizon’ gamble, the actor has signed up to his first film role since shooting his $100M western.
Costner is set to star and co-write the tropical surf thriller “Headhunters” which will be the directorial feature debut of DP Steven Holleran. Costner’s Territory Pictures will produce with Scott Steindorff of Stone Village Films.
In “Headhunters,” Costner will play a “washed-up American ex-pat with a mysterious past who winds up living in Bali, Indonesia. He gathers a group of surfers led by a local photographer to find the perfect wave at an uncharted island — which winds up being the domicile to an ancient tribe of headhunters who are protecting their land at all costs.”
Daniel Zovatto (Station Eleven) is set to co-star with Costner in the film. No production date has been announced, but since ‘Horizon 3’ has been put on indefinite hold, it does look like this might be Costner’s next film. He needs to somehow make money. That’s probably why he’s even hinted that he might come back for “Yellowstone.”
Costner’s “Horizon: An American Saga – Part 1” only grossed $38.2M at the global box office. Part 2, which world premiered at Venice to lukewarm reviews, was pulled from the August theatrical release calendar by Warner Bros, and there is currently no alternate release date set up for it yet.
Costner explained that the decision to delay the second film's release was indeed affected by the first film’s box office performance. “It didn’t have overwhelming success," he said, per Variety, before noting, “I’ve had a lot of movies that way, that have stood the test of time."
Speaking at the Venice press conference for ‘Horizon 2,’ Costner stated that he’s determined to finish, his multipart Western epic. “I don’t know how I’m gonna make ‘Horizon 3’right now, but I’m gonna make it,” he told press on the Lido.
Costner had admitted having spent almost $100M on all three ‘Horizon’ films.
The wheels are already turning to lock in a sequel to Greta Gerwig's 2023 blockbuster, and it sounds like an inevitability: "There's no way “Barbie 2” doesn't happen."