In a recent interview with Audacy’s Jenn Hobby, Kevin Costner delved into the emotional journey of his latest film, Horizon: An American Saga.
LISTEN NOW: Kevin Costner details new western, ‘Horizon: An American Saga’
The project is the first of a multi-part western cinematic experience in which Costner is involved across multiple roles including director, producer, writer, and star of the film. More than just another Western film, it is a clear display of Coster’s knowledge and passion surrounding the Western time period, in addition to his gift for storytelling and capturing an audience.
In this particular film, Costner highlights the pivotal roles of women and indigenous people in shaping the historical western front of the United States. He shared his inspiration behind telling their stories and just how he did it in a recent interview with Audacy’s Jenn Hobby.
“I just felt that women were really important in the west... it is a violent movie but I think a lot of people will go, ‘Wait, I want him and her to see this, I want him to understand what their great great grandmothers may have gone through.’” he explained. "Women basically worked themselves to death in the west just to keep their families clean and so a western for me… that bathing scene is just as much important to me as a gunfight."
The film also highlights broader societal themes including the relentless pursuit of hope amidst adversity. Costner opened up about the importance of this message to him, personally, as he urged people, politics and society to return to principles of honor and empathy in public life.
“We need to honor up, we need to be about honor,” he expressed. “We don’t need to be about ego, politicians have to be about people — it can’t be about their own future. No one can think that they’re the savior of this thing.”
As mentioned earlier, this is just the first of a four-part cinematic experience which Costner says will draw people in even more. “This is just the beginning,” he reminded us. “The second one, you;re going to have a hard time breathing again. And the third one, you’re going to just be amazed at where this goes… and the fourth one will finally let you know that some of everything you’ve seen is a lie.”
Hear more about the film and the inspiration behind it by checking out Kevin Costner’s entire conversation with Audacy’s Jenn Hobby above.