Kevin Costner has joined an upcoming tropical surf thriller called Headhunters following Horizon: An American Saga‘s disastrous release. Costner remains one of the most recognizable actors working in Hollywood today, known for films like Dances with Wolves (1990), Robin Hood: Prince of Thieves (1991), and The Bodyguard (1991). After re-entering the spotlight with his role as John Dutton in the cast of Yellowstone, Costner would depart that show to write, direct, and star in Horizon, which was billed as a four-part Western epic.
Deadline now reports that Costner has signed on to star in, produce, and co-write a thriller called Headhunters, which he will tackle after Horizon. Missing cinematographer Steven Holleran will direct the film, which marks his directorial debut. Daniel Zovatto, best known for Station Eleven and The Pope’s Exorcist (2023) will star alongside Costner.
Some early plot details regarding the film have also been released, with Costner set to play a “washed-up American expat 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 of an ancient tribe of headhunters who are protecting their land at all costs.“
Costner is producing the film through Territory Pictures, his production company, alongside his partner, Howard Kaplan. Scott Steindorff, Dylan Russell, Lindsay Davis and Stacey Woods are producing for Stone Village.
What Headhunters Means For The Horizon Franchise
When Will Costner’s Epic Saga Be Concluded?
Horizon: An American Saga reviews were mixed from critics, and the film currently has a 51% critics’ score on Rotten Tomatoes, and a 70% audience score. Though the audience score is an improvement, it didn’t translate into a strong turnout in theaters. Reporting on the film’s budget has varied, with some putting it at $50 million while others put it at $100 million, but Horizon was a flop regardless, grossing only $38 million during its theatrical run.
The first film’s poor performance resulted in the Horizon: An American Saga – Chapter 2 release being cancelled, with no new date having been set. Costner started filming Horizon 3, but that film has now stalled, reportedly due to financing issues. Costner addressed Horizon 3 production stalling in August, revealing that his new plan is to “perhaps shoot them back to back next spring,” referring to the rest of the third and the entirety of the fourth.
The Deadline report that Costner won’t be starting Headhunters until after Horizon, then, means Headhunters may be a few years away. Even if Costner completes filming on the Horizon franchise before next summer, which still isn’t a sure thing, the post-production work on both of those projects means Headhunters may not be able to go to camera until 2026.
Our Take On Headhunters
The Film Could Be An Interesting Change For Costner
Reviews for Horizon 2 have been essentially in line with those for the first, and the box office prospects certainly aren’t any better. Though the second film in Costner’s Western franchise will release eventually and Costner is optimistic about the remaining two, there’s certainly a chance that his plans will fall through.
So far, Headhunters sounds like an interesting change of pace after so many years in the Western genre. If Costner’s plans for his Western franchise don’t work out, his new film, it it’s successful, could actually help move the needle on Horizon 3, proving that he’s still a bankable movie star.
