Kevin Costner has recently come under scrutiny for casting his 15-year-old son, Hayes, in his new film “Horizon: An American Saga.” Despite Hayes having no prior acting experience, Costner chose him for the role of Nathaniel Kittredge in the first installment of the four-part Civil War-era Western. The decision has sparked a debate about nepotism in Hollywood, but Costner has defended his choice, citing personal reasons.
In a candid interview on the “Today” show, Costner, 69, admitted that his decision was somewhat “selfish.” He explained that he wanted to spend more time with his son during the filming. “He’s a beautiful boy, and he’s quiet. And I have not shoved my children into the business,” Costner said. He acknowledged the abundance of young actors who would have loved the opportunity but emphasized that Hayes’ role was relatively small and required only two weeks of filming.
Costner’s decision to cast Hayes without an audition has raised eyebrows, especially given his stance against nepotism. “I realize there are so many young actors out there that would just kill to be in this movie,” he said. “And I don’t want to take those parts away from them just because I can place my own children in.” However, he felt that this particular role was an exception.
Despite Hayes’ lack of experience, Costner praised his son’s performance, describing it as “really beautiful.” He recounted how they would drive to the set together every day, and Hayes would whisper his lines. “It’s a really complicated scene. In the end, there’s a nobility, there’s an absolute fatalness about it. It’s what you want in a son,” Costner said.
The connection between Hayes and the film runs deeper than just casting. Costner revealed that he named his son after the character he plays in the movie, Hayes Ellison. “I named him after the character I play in this. My character’s name is Hayes Ellison,” he told Entertainment Tonight. “And I named Hayes that character. So I was watching him grow up and I was thinking, ‘Man, I better get with it and make this movie.'”
Costner shares Hayes, along with his other children Cayden, 17, and Grace, 14, with his ex-wife Christine Baumgartner. He also has adult children from previous relationships. Last month, he brought five of his seven children to the Cannes Film Festival, where “Horizon: An American Saga” received a 10-minute standing ovation.
The actor joked about needing a “tour director” to keep his kids in line during the festival. “I brought five of them and got them tuxedos, I bought them dresses,” he said on “Jimmy Kimmel Live!” “I wanted to know … that they were going to stick with me and support me.”
Costner’s decision to cast his son has not been without its critics. Some have labeled it as another instance of nepotism in Hollywood. However, Costner remains unapologetic, emphasizing the personal significance of the decision. “I’m also a father and it was a part that wasn’t that long – and I wanted him to be close to me. I was away from home, I needed my family close to me, and it was a way for me to trap him. I thought he was just beautiful in the movie,” he told Metro.co.uk.
The film, which Costner wrote, directed, and financed, has been a long-term passion project for him. He revealed that he had trouble making the movie for years but never gave up on it. “I started this in 1988 and I couldn’t make it, but I wouldn’t fall out of love with it. I don’t know what that says about me, but I couldn’t fall out of love with Hayes, and so 15 years ago I just named my son Hayes because I couldn’t let go of it,” he explained.
Despite the mixed reviews from critics, Costner remains proud of the film and his son’s involvement. “Horizon: An American Saga – Chapter 1” is set to premiere in theaters on June 28, with Chapter 2 following on August 16. The film has been described as a four-part Western drama spanning the 15 years before and after the American Civil War.
Costner’s decision to cast his son may continue to be a topic of debate, but for him, it was a deeply personal choice. “It’s what you don’t want a son to do, and at the end of the day, you’re proud that he would make that choice,” he said.
