“He didn’t have a lot of experience”: Yellowstone Star Kevin Costner Reignites Nepotism Debate With His “Selfish” Act in ‘Horizon’

Hollywood has gone through a massive shift in identity over the past decade. Among the numerous high-profile sagas like the #MeToo movement, the WGA and SAG-AFTRA strikes, and the fight for more inclusion, the debate over nepotism also reared its ugly yet distinct head. Most recently, it was the Yellowstone star Kevin Costner himself who poured gasoline over the fire during the promotional tour of his latest film, Horizon: An American Saga.

Considered by popular culture to be an ethically unfair practice, nepotism allows those born into a family connected to Hollywood to take up the space of unemployed, aspiring actors who are yet to get their big break. After Horizon: An American Saga, Costner too has officially joined the ranks of those who are set to be criticized for participating in the trend that has taken over Hollywood now more than ever.

Kevin Costner Reveals His Son’s Role in Horizon

Kevin Costner‘s long-held passion project, Horizon: An American Saga has been in the works for 40 years and Costner has only now begun to reap the fruit of his labor. However, with time, the film has transgressed the domain of creative expression into a family affair after Costner signed off on his youngest son taking over a minor role in the ambitious Western historical epic directed by the actor.

In a stacked and decorated ensemble cast in a film of such scale and caliber, a speaking part (that would have gone to a struggling, aspiring, or up-and-coming actor) could have jumpstarted the career of that actor in this cut-throat industry. Hayes Costner, on the other hand, already held the de facto title of Hollywood royalty since birth without having to struggle to get his foot in the door.

In an interview with Entertainment Tonight, Costner revealed the fated connection that his son shares with his long-developing passion project:

I named [my son] after the character I play in [Horizon]. My character’s name is Hayes Ellison. 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.’

The 15-year-old son of the Oscar-winning actor and director portrays the role of Nathaniel Kittredge, a relatively minor piece in the epic Civil War-era Western. Costner later revealed that the role went to his teenage son even without the added responsibility of an audition.

Kevin Costner Expresses Pride Over His Son’s Acting Debut

Notwithstanding the offer on the silver platter, Kevin Costner’s young son has already passed his initiation into Hollywood with Horizon: An American Saga. But before the audience could pass their own verdict on the clear-cut case of blatant nepotism, Costner took control of the narrative by addressing the topic before anyone else could.

In doing so, he touched upon every aspect of the controversial subject that could later give rise to grievances among the fans. During his interview on the TODAY show, Costner claimed:

He’s a beautiful boy, and he’s quiet. And I have not shoved my children into the business. I realize there’s so many young actors out there that would just kill to be in this movie. And I don’t want to take those parts away from them just ‘cause I can place my own children in.

But, in a sense, since it was a smaller part, 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.

Talking about the role itself, Costner further elaborated:

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. 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.

With Horizon: An American Saga – Chapter 1 now complete, the actor still has 3 more chapters left to wrap before he can call it a day. As for his central role in the Paramount+ flagship series, Yellowstone, his arc as John Dutton remains shrouded in mystery until the final half of Season 5 premieres in November 2024.

Horizon: An American Saga – Chapter 1 will premiere on June 28, 2024.