Kevin Costner Defends Casting Son In ‘Horizon’ For First Acting Role: ‘He’s A Beautiful Boy’

Kevin Costner is defending his decision to give his son his first acting role in a major passion project. The Oscar winner opened up on “Today” about his multi-part epic “Horizon” that’s been decades in the making, telling Savannah Guthrie on June 18 why he wanted 15-year-old Hayes to be alongside his famous father during filming despite knowing more experienced performers were available. “I have not shoved my children into the business,” he explained. “I realize there’s so many young actors 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 this instance, it was a smaller part. I selfishly wanted him with me for the week, two weeks he was with me.”