Kevin Costner to Star in and Co-Write ‘Headhunters’

Not a remake of the 2011 Morten Tyldum crime thriller, it’s actually the story of a man looking to find an uncharted island –– and discovering more than he bargained for.

Kevin Costner for 'Horizon: An American Saga' at CinemaCon 2024. Photo: Warner Bros.

Preview:

Kevin Costner has co-written and will star in ‘Headhunters.’
It’s the story of surfers looking for the perfect wave on an island that has dark secrets.
Steven Holleran came up with the idea and is co-writing and directing.

For a while there, it looked like Kevin Costner might be pulling a James Cameron and devoting himself almost exclusively to working in one cinematic world, as the latter has done with the ‘Avatar’ movies.

Yet in Costner’s case, the actor/writer/director/producer certainly has not seen the same sorts of financial performance from his own passion project, ‘Horizon: An American Saga.’

The Western, for which Costner rounded up much of the financing and starred/produced/wrote/directed, was intended to launch a multi-movie story, but while he’s made at least two more entries, the whole wagon train hit a major bump when the first movie landed in theaters with a thud this past June.

It earned a paltry $38 million worldwide from a $100 million budget and put plans for the other movies’ releases on hold for now.

Costner is switching tracks, collaborating with cinematographer Steven Holleran on a new movie called ‘Headhunters,’ which Holleran originated and has co-written with the star.

What’s the story of ‘Headhunters’?

Kevin Costner as John Dutton III in Paramount Network's 'Yellowstone' season 5. Credit: Paramount Network.

According to the official logline, ‘Headhunters’ will find Costner as Lazer, a washed-up American ex-pat with a mysterious past who finds himself living in Bali, Indonesia.

Lazer recruits a group of surfers led by Bima, a local photographer, on a journey to an uncharted island to pioneer a “perfect wave.” To their surprise, the island is home to an ancient tribe of headhunters guarding the land at all costs.

What ensues is an adventure turned survival story of epic and bloody proportions on a tropical island which once seemed to be paradise… But is actually closer to hell.

Here’s what Holleran, who will make his directorial debut with the movie, had to say about it:

“My filmmaking journey got its start in the ocean shooting surf videos in California as a teenager. Twenty years later, ‘Headhunters’ brings things full circle and connects three life-long passions of mine — surfing, filmmaking, and adventure.”

He’s in pre-production now, with shooting set to start next month in Hawaii.

Who else is working on ‘Headhunters’?

(L to R) Daniel Zovatto and Russell Crowe in Sony Pictures 'The Pope's Exorcist.'

Daniel Zovatto, who has been seen in ‘Station Eleven,’ ‘The Pope’s Exorcist’ and ‘Penny Dreadful: City of Angels,’ will star alongside Costner.

And Costner’s Territory Pictures is co-producing the film alongside Scott Steindorff and his Stone Village Films.

This is what Steindorff had to say about the collaboration:

“For decades, my friend Kevin and I have been searching for the right project to collaborate on. This is one of the best scripts I have seen in my career. Kevin is a legendary actor who brings so much depth and charisma to his roles and has written an iconic horror script with Steve.”

When will ‘Headhunters’ be on screens?

‘Headhunters’ is currently seeking distribution, so there is no release date information to report yet.

Kevin Costner as Hayes Ellison in New Line Cinema's Western drama 'Horizon: An American Saga - Chapter 1', a Warner Bros. Pictures release. Photo Credit: Richard Foreman. Copyright: © 2024 Warner Bros. Entertainment Inc. All Rights Reserved.