Kevin Costner Explains Yellowstone Exit, Risks $20M On Passion Project

Yellowstone star Kevin Costner recently took a huge financial risk on his passion project. But the actor did so only after letting that project sit for almost three decades.

Find out about the project that cost Costner more than $20 million. And learn what the actor revealed about his exit from Yellowstone.

Kevin Costner – Bets $20 Million On Passion Project

Yellowstone star Kevin Costner revealed last year that he would focus on his passion project. And the actor spent over $20 million on his movie series, “Horizon: An American Saga.” But Costner had waited almost 30 years to chase his dream of the four-part epic series. Taking place amid the expansion of the American West, the series will debut in summer 2024, according to Fox News.

And two months after “Horizon: An American Saga Chapter 1” premieres on June 28, 2024, “Chapter 2” will debut on Aug. 16, 2024, release. However, the details about Costner’s investment became known only through his divorce battle with his ex-wife, Christine Baumgartner.

The court documents revealed that Costner anticipated receiving money from Horizon after he invested in his passion project. “Kevin’s total compensation for acting, producing, and directing in Horizon 1 is approximately $12,000,000,” noted the documents. “And for Horizon 2 is approximately $12,000,000, most of which he voluntarily deferred.”

'Yellowstone' star Kevin Costner gambles on next monster hit with his own money https://t.co/Jadks6hkaw

— FOX Business (@FoxBusiness) October 14, 2023

Kevin Costner – Explains Yellowstone Exit

And the court documents also revealed, “Kevin estimates that this money will ‘waterfall’ back to him starting in late next year. Kevin also has a profit participation in Horizon 1 and 2, which is yet another source of income.” However, to fund the project, Costner mortgaged 10 acres of his $50 million Santa Barbara property near the ocean. 

“I’ve mortgaged 10 acres on the water in Santa Barbara where I was going to build my last house,” Costner admitted. “But I did it without a thought. It has thrown my accountant into a f—ing conniption fit. But it’s my life, and I believe in the idea and the story.”

However, Costner also discussed why he exited Yellowstone. And he explained, “Somewhere along the line, they wanted to change things. They wanted to do 5A and 5B … affected ‘Horizon.’ I was going to do my movie ‘Horizon’ and leave that show, do my movie, then do B. A show I was only doing once a year I was now doing twice.”

Kevin Costner – Rejected $24 Million Offer

And the actor revealed that he received an offer of $24 million to star in season 5, 6 and 7 of Yellowstone. But then attempts to figure out a schedule failed, resulting in the end.

As for how he feels about his upcoming project, Costner recalled making attempts to finish the movie starting in 1988. And he noted, “Eight years later, I started thinking about the story, started writing with a partner, and it ended up being four screenplays.”

As a result, he “reverse-engineered everything from 1988. I thought it was really good. But I still couldn’t get anybody to make it. At the end of the day, I’m a storyteller, and I went ahead and put my own money into it. I’m not a very good businessman, so, scratch your head, if you will. I don’t know why, but I have not let go of this one. I’ve pushed it into the middle of the table three times in my career and didn’t blink. This is my fourth.”

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