Kevin Costner

Kevin Costner Talks HATFIELDS & McCOYS, Dramatic License in a Historical Tale, and Future Projects

by Christina Radish    Posted: May 16th, 2012 at 11:24 pm

Hatfields & McCoys is a three-night, six-hour epic event – airing on HISTORY on May 28^th, 29^th and 30^th – that tells the true American story of a legendary family feud that spanned decades and nearly launched a war between Kentucky and West Virginia. Devil Anse Hatfield (Academy Award winner Kevin Costner) and Randall McCoy (Bill Paxton) were close friends and comrades until near the end of the Civil War, when they returned to their neighboring homes and resentments soon exploded between the families. As retaliations grew and more and more family members were horrifically murdered, the feud made international headlines, changing the families and the history of the region forever.

During this recent interview to promote the mini-series, actor Kevin Costner talked about how he got involved with the project, his personal interest in American history, the extent of the research he did, how much he enjoyed working with this ensemble of actors, finding the right hat to embody the character, shooting such an American story in Romania, reuniting with his Waterworld and Robin Hood: Prince of Thieves director Kevin Reynolds for the project, and determining how much dramatic license you can take when telling a historical tale. He also talked about the eight-hour Western he would like to direct, and the characters that are closest to his heart. Check out what he had to say after the jump:

First Trailer for History Channel’s HATFIELDS & MCCOYS Miniseries Starring Kevin Costner and Bill Paxton

by Ethan Anderton    Posted: February 10th, 2012 at 11:33 am

Memorial Day is still quite awhile off, but that’s not stopping the History Channel from teasing you with a sneak peek trailer at their forthcoming drama series Hatfields & McCoys, the chronicle of one of the most infamous family rivalries in American history. Kevin Costner plays “Devil” Anse Hatfield and Bill Paxton plays Randall McCoy in the three-part miniseries from that hits cable this summer. This trailer looks damn good, and seems like a fine return to the Western genre for Costner who has delivered such classics as Dances with Wolves. Check out the trailer after the jump along with a short synopsis of the conflict between the Hatfields and McCoys.

Kevin Costner Drops Out of Quentin Tarantino’s DJANGO UNCHAINED

by Adam Chitwood    Posted: September 15th, 2011 at 7:53 pm

It appears that Kevin Costner won’t be starring in Quentin Tarantino’s Django Unchained after all. The actor was in negotiations to join Tarantino’s controversial western, which takes a harsh look at slavery in the 19th century as told through Tarantino’s oh-so-politically-correct pen, but now Variety’s Justin Kroll reports that the actor had to pass due to scheduling conflicts. Costner was poised to play the villainous role of Ace Woody, a man who trains male slaves to fight for the public’s amusement. Costner recently filmed his role as Clark Kent’s adoptive Earth father in Zack Snyder’s Man of Steel, and also has the History Channel miniseries The Hatfields and the McCoys and his directorial effort A Little War of Our Own on his plate so those projects may be to blame for the scheduling snafu.

While I was quite looking forward to seeing Costner as a Tarantino-written baddie, Django Unchained is doing just fine casting wise. Jamie Foxx is set as the titular Django, a freed slave who sets out to rescue his wife, while Leonardo DiCaprio will play the film’s main villain, an evil plantation owner. Christoph Waltz, Gerald McRaney, and the recently confirmed Samuel L. Jackson also star. Django Unchained starts production this November in New Orleans and is slated for a December 25th, 2012 release.

Kevin Costner in Talks to Join Quentin Tarantino’s DJANGO UNCHAINED

by Jason Barr    Posted: July 18th, 2011 at 1:17 pm

Kevin Costner is in negotiations to join Quentin Tarantino’s upcoming western Django Unchained. If the deal goes through, Costner will join a cast that already includes Jamie Foxx, Leonardo DiCaprio, Christoph Waltz, and Samuel L. Jackson. Per Deadline, Costner’s role would be that of the evil Ace Woody, the man responsible for training male slaves to fight for the amusement of the white customers of Candyland. For those new to the program, Django Unchained tells the story of an freed slave (Foxx) who is trained by a German bounty hunter (Waltz) so as to return to the plantation and save his wife from its evil owner (DiCaprio). The film is slated to begin production this fall and will open on December 25th, 2012.

As for Costner, in addition to potentially joining Django, the actor will also make a turn as Clark Kent’s Earthly father, Jonathan Kent, in producer Christopher Nolan and director Zack Snyder’s Man of Steel. He’s also pulling double duty as a producer/star in The History Channel’s upcoming miniseries Hatfields & McCoys.

FOD Trailer for FIELD OF DREAMS 2: NFL LOCKOUT Starring Taylor Lautner

by Matt Goldberg    Posted: July 6th, 2011 at 8:24 am

There’s been much hand-wringing over whether the players and the NFL can come to an agreement and end the lockout before the 2011 season begins.  In the meantime, it’s up to a distant voice to tell Taylor Lautner to build a football field in the Funny or Die trailer for Field of Dreams 2: NFL Lockout.  I’m not much of a Lautner fan, but I will happily watch him get tackled by Ray Lewis.  There are other cameos along the way including Atlanta Falcons tight end Tony Gonzalez (go Falcons!).

It’s a surprisingly funny fake trailer and you can check it out after the jump.  Pro football may or may not return this August.

History Announces THE HATFIIELDS AND THE MCCOYS Miniseries Starring Kevin Costner and 10-Hour Docudrama Based on the Bible

by Brendan Bettinger    Posted: May 24th, 2011 at 8:06 pm

History (formerly known as The History Channel) announced two high profile projects today.  The first, The Hatfield and the McCoys, centers on the infamous 19th-century family feud.  Kevin Costner will star as “Devil” Anse Hatfield and co-produce with Leslie Greif.  The press release claims the 2012 premiere will coincide with the 150th anniversary of the feud, but I’m not sure how they determine the anniversary for a multidecade feud that was initiated 146 years ago.  Brad Pitt, Robert Duvall, and Crazy Heart director Scott Cooper were linked to a separate Hatfield/McCoy movie over a year ago, with the caveat that it will happen “if and when Pitt decides to clear a place in his schedule.”  I imagine the Costner project will dissuade Pitt from searching too hard for that hole.

Additionally, History is developing a docudrama series with producer Mark Burnett (Survivor).  The network promises all the greatest hits: Noah’s Ark, the Exodus from Egypt, Daniel and the Lion’s Den, and of course, the crucifixion and resurrection of Jesus.  The press release highlights the “state-of-the-art computer-generated imagery (CGI),” which is absolutely noteworthy in 2011.  The 10-hour series will air in five parts in 2013.

Read the official announcement for both projects after the jump.

Confirmed: Kevin Costner to Play Jonathan Kent in Zack Snyder’s SUPERMAN Reboot

by Adam Chitwood    Posted: March 17th, 2011 at 5:44 pm

A couple weeks ago, it was reported that Kevin Costner was being considered for a key role in Zack Snyder’s Superman reboot. Well now Warner Bros. has confirmed that the actor has closed a deal to play Jonathan Kent, Clark Kent’s adopted father. Henry Cavill is poised to play the Man of Steel, and Diane Lane recently joined the cast as Kent’s adopted mother, Martha. Regarding Costner’s addition to the cast, Snyder had this to say:

“Jonathan Kent is the only father figure Clark has ever had, the man who was there to help Clark understand what he was meant to do in the world as Superman.  Kevin will be able to communicate the quiet strength of this rural American man who raised the greatest super hero of all time.”

It looks like casting is ramping up on the film, so expect more names announced in the coming weeks. Yesterday, Zack Snyder spoke a bit about the project, saying that this flick will assume “there’s been no other Superman movies.” The currently untitled Superman reboot, produced by Christopher Nolan, is set to start filming soon for a December 2012 release. Hit the jump for the full press release.

Diane Lane Will Play Martha Kent in SUPERMAN

by Brendan Bettinger    Posted: March 2nd, 2011 at 8:24 pm

Diane Lane has signed on to play Martha Kent in the Zack Snyder-directed Superman movie.  Snyder said in a statement:

“This was a very important piece of casting for me because Martha Kent is the woman whose values helped shape the man we know as Superman.  We are thrilled to have Diane in the role because she can convey the wisdom and the wonder of a woman whose son has powers beyond her imagination.”

Henry Cavill (The Tudors) will star as Clark Kent/Superman.  Charles Roven, Emma Thomas, Christopher Nolan and Deborah Snyder are producers on the film.  David S. Goyer is writing the screenplay based on a story by Goyer and Nolan.  The untitled Superman film is scheduled for a December 2012 release.  Hit the jump for more on possible stars/characters.

Kevin Costner Up for “Key Role” in SUPERMAN Reboot

by Matt Goldberg    Posted: February 21st, 2011 at 11:46 am

While Kevin Costner has had a less-than-stellar track record for the last two decades (although there are some gems like A Perfect World and Open Range), he does deserve some credit for staying away from sequels, remakes, and franchise pictures.  But now it looks like he may be signing on to Zack Snyder’s upcoming Superman reboot.  Deadline reports that Costner is up for a “key role” in the picture.  If I had to guess at what the role could be, I’d say it’s either Superman’s birth father Jor-El, surrogate parent Pa Kent, or Daily Planet editor Perry White.  Currently, the only actor cast in the film is Henry Cavill as Superman/Clark Kent.  The film is currently set for release next holiday season.

Costner most recently co-starred in The Company Men.  Last year, we reported that he was planning to get back in the director’s chair for the World War II action-adventure, A Little War of Our Own.

DANCES WITH WOLVES 20th Anniversary Extended Cut Blu-ray Review

by Andre Dellamorte    Posted: February 2nd, 2011 at 11:57 am

Kevin Costner’s moment at the top of his arc was undoubtedly Dances with Wolves – everything since has been part of his decline. He had box office hits/classics with such films as The Untouchables, Field of Dreams, No Way Out, and Bull Durham. He was a sex symbol, a guy’s guy, the next Gary Cooper – down to Earth, and sexy in a way that suggested distinct heterosexuality. Then came Dances with Wolves, and it was there the stage for Costner-backlash was set: Wolves trumped Goodfellas and Martin Scorsese for best picture and director. The film had been loved, but there were dissenters (including Pauline Kael), and by the time Costner got around to directing again (1997’s The Postman), he had already made Waterworld and a number of films that won him no fans. Twenty years on it’s interesting to revisit his Dances with Wolves, as the film has both been overrated and over-hated over the course of two decades, and my review of the film on Blu-ray in an extended director’s cut follows after the jump.

BULL DURHAM Blu ray Review

by Gil Kellerman    Posted: August 16th, 2010 at 9:05 am

Writer-director Ron Shelton’s Bull Durham still resonates, twenty-two years after its release, as the baseball movie to hold all others up to.  Veteran Catcher and minor-league veteran Crash Davis (Kevin Costner) finds his contract bought out, placing him with the Durham Bulls.  The Bulls’ star player is Pitcher Ebby Calvin “Nuke” Laloosh (Tim Robbins), an empty-headed hotshot who dreams of nothing more than making it to “the show,” (the major league, in layman’s terms).  And the team’s hope is that Crash will be able to impart some wisdom on Laloosh to better prep him for that career leap.  Meanwhile, a hardball devotee named Annie Savoy (Susan Sarandon), a local who chooses one player per season as a personal “project”, selects Laloosh as flavor of the season.  But it’s Crash who steals her heart and the movie quickly becomes as much about human emotions as it does baseball.  Continued after the jump:

First Trailer for THE COMPANY MEN Starring Ben Affleck, Kevin Costner, Tommy Lee Jones, Chris Cooper

by Brendan Bettinger    Posted: July 21st, 2010 at 11:00 am

Another day, another trailer premiere with Ben Affleck at the center.  The clip for Affleck’s directorial effort The Town debuted earlier this week, and The Weinstein Company has just released a trailer for the Sundance entry The Company Men.  Director John Wells (ER) surrounds Affleck with the likes of Kevin Costner, Tommy Lee Jones, Chris Cooper, Craig T. Nelson, Maria Bello, and Rosemarie DeWitt.  Check out the trailer after the jump.

Kevin Costner Will Fight in A LITTLE WAR OF OUR OWN

by Matt Goldberg    Posted: February 11th, 2010 at 10:14 pm

Before you groan at the news of Kevin Costner stepping up to direct and star in a new movie, please remember the following: the last film he directed, 2003′s Open Rage, was good; Dances with Wolves is good; Costner makes the films he wants and doesn’t do sequels or franchise pictures.  There’s something commendable in all that and so I’m happy when Variety reports that Costner will be getting back in the director’s chair and in front of the camera for the World War II action-adventure, A Little War of Our Own.

Written by Dan Gordon (Wyatt Earp), the film follows a Sheriff (Costner) who must keep a town from exploding into violence.  Costner and Beacon Pictures are in the process of casting the film’s other lead role of a German U-boat commander.

Costner most recently appeared in John Wells’ The Company Men, which debuted at this year’s Sundance Film Festival and co-stars Ben Affleck, Tommy Lee Jones, and Chris Cooper.

Writer/Director John Wells Sundance Video Interview THE COMPANY MEN

by Steve 'Frosty' Weintraub    Posted: February 2nd, 2010 at 6:13 pm

At this year’s Sundance Film Festival, I had the opportunity to interview a ton of the filmmakers that attended the Festival.  Now that I’m back in L.A. and have the time to edit the videos, it’s time to start posting a lot of great conversations.  And up first…writer/director John Wells for his directorial debut The Company Men.

While many of you know who Wells is as he’s written and/or been a producer on shows like The West Wing, Third Watch, and ER (just to name a few),  The Company Men marks his first time behind the camera.  The very realistic drama stars Ben Affleck, Chris Cooper, Tommy Lee Jones, Kevin Costner and Rosemary DeWitt.  It’s about around three men that attempt to survive a round of corporate downsizing while trying to fend off its effects on their families and their identities.  As you can tell by the synopsis, it’s something many people are going through right now.

During the interview, Wells says it was not a film Hollywood wanted to make, so he had to get the financing on his own.  Hit the jump for a great conversation about his movie and the state of Hollywood:

Sundance Video Review: John Wells THE COMPANY MEN Starring Tommy Lee Jones, Ben Affleck, Chris Cooper, and Rosemary DeWitt

by Steve 'Frosty' Weintraub    Posted: January 23rd, 2010 at 5:02 pm

The best part of Sundance…getting to see a ton of movies.  The worst part of Sundance, trying to find the time to write about them.  So after the premiere of writer/director John Wells The Company Men last night, David Chen (from Slashfilm) and I did a short video review/video blog of what we thought of the film.

The Company Men stars Ben Affleck, Chris Cooper, Tommy Lee Jones, Kevin Costner and Rosemary DeWitt.  The drama revolves around three men that attempt to survive a round of corporate downsizing while trying to fend off its effects on their families and their identities.

Since the movie was made independently, this isn’t some Hollywood version of what happens when you lose your job.   Instead it’s an honest look at what’s going on in our country and I was impressed by John Wells first feature.  If you’ve seen Up in the Air, The Company Men is a good companion piece as it shows you what really happens after you lose your job.  Hit the jump for the video review and look for interviews with the cast very soon:

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