Family comes first for Kevin Costner.
The Oscar-winning actor revealed to Fox News Digital that his 15-year-old son, Hayes, isn’t the only Costner kid to show off his acting chops in « Horizon: An American Saga. »
« They’re all supportive of each other, » Costner confessed of his seven children. « My oldest son was in a scene in chapter two, and, a small part again. »
He joked, « I just try to find ways to trap them. »
‘HORIZON’ STAR KEVIN COSTNER REVERES ‘PROMISE IN AMERICA’ IN ACTION-PACKED FILM: ‘MAKE WHAT’S OUT THERE YOURS’
Kevin Costner says there’s no jealousy in his large family. (Getty Images/Warner Bros.)
Costner shares sons Hayes,15, and Cayden, 17, and daughter Grace, 14, with ex-wife Christine Baumgartner. The former couple finalized their divorce in February after 18 years of marriage.
He also has three adult children – Annie, Lily and Joe – with ex-wife Cindy Silva, and son Liam, 26, with former partner Bridget Rooney.
KEVIN COSTNER ‘SELFISHLY’ GAVE ‘HORIZON’ ROLE TO 15-YEAR-OLD SON: ‘IT WAS A SMALLER PART’
While his older son makes his debut in the second part of « Horizon, » his son Hayes was only 13 years old when he signed on to star in the first film of the post-Civil War drama which Costner began dreaming up more than 30 years ago.
« They’re all supportive of each other. My oldest son was in a scene in chapter two, and, a small part again. I just try to find ways to trap them. »
Costner admitted working on set with Hayes, who was cast as Nathaniel Kittredge, was special in many ways.
« That he did it, that he was good in it, that he listened, that he was worried, that he cared … I’m just so happy that he has that now the rest of his life, » Costner said. « I haven’t pushed my children into this, and this might be his only dabble in it, but he’s memorable. And for me to have him, I’ll never forget it. »
WATCH: KEVIN COSTNER TALKS ABOUT WORKING WITH HIS SON ON ‘HORIZON’
Hayes’ role required two weeks of filming, which gave Costner a unique time to bond with his son.
« In a sense, it was a smaller part, » Costner told « Today » about his son’s role. « I selfishly wanted him with me for the week, two weeks, he was with me. And we would drive to the set every day and he would whisper. He didn’t have a lot of experience, but he’s really beautiful in the movie. It’s a really complicated scene.
Costner released the first trailer for the four-part, post-Civil War drama in February, and showcased the Wild West frontier his name has become synonymous with for decades, dating back to his first directorial stint on « Dances with Wolves. »
Costner brought five of his children to the Cannes film festival in May for the « Horizon » debut, including Cayden, Lily, Hayes, Grace, and Annie Costner. (Rocco Spaziani)
Kevin Costner not only starred in but also directed his film « Horizon. » (Warner Bros.)
In addition to starring in the feature film, Costner also directed « Horizon, » based on a script he co-wrote with John Baird. The ensemble cast includes Sienna Miller, Sam Worthington, Luke Wilson, Abbey Lee, Jena Malone and Giovanni Ribisi, to name a few.
« I haven’t pushed my children into this, and this might be his only dabble in it, but he’s memorable. And for me to have him, I’ll never forget it. »
The film came with a hefty price tag, though, and set Costner back many millions in out-of-pocket expenses, which came to light during his divorce proceedings.
Costner later clarified the massive sum. « I know they say I’ve got $20 million of my own money in this movie, » he told GQ magazine. « It’s not true. I’ve got now about $38 million in the film. That’s the truth. That’s the real number. »
Sienna Miller (pictured) joins the all-star cast, which also includes Sam Worthington, Jena Malone and Jamie Campbell Bower. (Warner Bros.)
Costner invested $38 million of his own money into « Horizon: An American Saga. » (Warner Bros.)
Costner’s entire focus can remain on the future of « Horizon » now that « Yellowstone » is officially over for Mr. John Dutton. After months of speculation, Costner confirmed on social media last week that he wouldn’t be returning to season five, part B of the Taylor Sheridan show.
When asked why he finally made the decision to leave the popular series, Costner’s answer was simple. « Because there’s just too many questions about it. So the time to step away was now, » he told Fox News Digital.
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On Instagram last week, Costner said, « Hi, everyone. I just want to reach out and let you know that after this long year and a half of working on ‘Horizon,’ and doing all the things that’s required, and thinking about ‘Yellowstone,’ that beloved series that I love and I know you love, I just realized that I’m not going to be able to continue Season 5, or into the future. »
WATCH: KEVIN COSTNER REVEALS HIS OLDEST SON IS IN ‘HORIZON’ 2
« It was something that really changed me. I loved it and I know you loved it. And I just wanted to let you know that I won’t be returning. I love the relationship that we’ve been able to develop, and I’ll see you at the movies. »
Fox News Digital was in the courtroom where Costner hinted at a possible legal showdown over money he is owed from his time on « Yellowstone » while fighting over child support payments with ex-wife Christine Baumgartner. Before a judge ruled in favor of the actor in September over monthly child custody payments, Costner testified in depth about the drama surrounding « Yellowstone » season 5.
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« We did negotiate, » he explained in the courtroom. « There were issues about creative. I tried to break the log jam. They walked away. »
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Costner seemingly had issues with the timing of filming « Yellowstone » as he wanted to focus on « Horizon. » At the time, the first movie in the four-part saga was in post production, a « critical » time for putting things together.
« Somewhere along the line they wanted to change things, » he said of the « Yellowstone » filming process. « They wanted to do 5A and 5B… affected ‘Horizon.’ I was going to do my movie ‘Horizon’ and leave that show, do my movie, then do B. A show I was only doing once a year I was now doing twice. »
Costner explained that he had been offered $24 million to do season five, six and seven of « Yellowstone, » before scheduling broke down, and the show was canceled.
Kevin Costner portrayed John Dutton on the Paramount network show « Yellowstone. » (Paramount Network)
« I will probably go to court over it, » Costner responded when asked by his ex-wife’s lawyer if he had received a payout from the latest seasons of « Yellowstone. »
Costner’s western saga debuts in theaters on June 28. The second part of the epic will be released just 49 days later, on Aug. 16. Tickets are on sale now.
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