I’m After over four decades in Hollywood, Kevin Costner is showing no signs of slowing down. The Oscar-winning actor, producer, and director has made it clear that retirement isn’t even on his radar.
In a candid chat with People, the Yellowstone alum—who recently had a tense moment with ex-wife Christine Baumgartner at their son’s graduation—shared that his creative fire is still burning strong.
“I don’t even think about retiring, because I’ll just move to the next thing that captures my imagination,” he said. “My imagination is what determines what I do, not a boss.”
Still Dreaming, Still Creating
At 70, Costner remains deeply passionate about storytelling and filmmaking. While many might be winding down, he’s ramping up—especially with his multi-part Western film project, Horizon: An American Saga, which he wrote, directed, and stars in.
“I’ve enjoyed life and imagining what I can do… not only to me, but to other people,” he explained. “It’s a rush to get to all of them.”
Though he doesn’t call it a “bucket list,” Costner says his ambitions remain wide open:
“My eyes and my enthusiasms are wide open and very big.”
A Career Spanning Generations
Costner’s Hollywood journey began in the early ’80s with Sizzle Beach, U.S.A., followed by breakout roles in The Untouchables (1987), Field of Dreams (1989), and the legendary Dances With Wolves(1990)—which earned him two Academy Awards.
He later went on to star in hits like Robin Hood: Prince of Thieves, The Bodyguard, Wyatt Earp, Open Range, and Man of Steel. On the small screen, his Emmy-winning role in Hatfields & McCoys and his fan-favorite portrayal of John Dutton in Yellowstone cemented his place in TV history.
“There’s not many artists who get to have success over three decades of music,” Costner once noted in a different context—but the statement rings true for his film legacy as well.
The Horizon Vision
One of Costner’s most ambitious ventures to date is Horizon: An American Saga, a four-part Western epic that he began envisioning back in the 1980s. The first two parts are already in the can, with Chapter 1 having premiered at the Santa Barbara International Film Festival earlier this year.
Despite box office setbacks delaying Chapter 2’s release, Costner remains committed.
“I don’t know how I’m going to do it, but I’m going to make it and then I’m going to make the fourth one,” he declared. “If you want to say ‘the end’ at that point, then that’s the end.”
Life Beyond Hollywood
While Costner’s filmography speaks for itself, he’s also clear that movies aren’t everything.
“My life is a lot more than movies. I just periodically pop up in them,” he told AARP back in 2019.
Between working on passion projects and raising his children, Costner seems to have struck a balance—pursuing art on his own terms.
A Bit of Personal Drama
His recent public appearance came during a reportedly frosty reunion with ex-wife Christine Baumgartner at their son’s graduation. The pair, who divorced in 2023 after nearly two decades of marriage, share three children. Christine is now engaged to financier Josh Connor.
The Bottom Line?
Kevin Costner isn’t riding off into the sunset anytime soon. Instead, he’s galloping full speed ahead—chasing creative visions, breaking new ground, and proving that age is just a number when passion leads the way.
“I’ve felt really lucky in my life,” he said. “I’d like to think I worked for all of it… but not everybody can live by the same blueprint.”
