Kevin Costner reflects on passion, purpose, and why he’s not retiring anytime soon

At 70, Kevin Costner is as creatively driven as ever. With a legacy that spans decades and a filmography full of classics, the Oscar-winning actor-director shows no signs of slowing down. In an exclusive conversation, Costner shares why retirement isn’t in the cards, how imagination fuels his next steps, and what continues to spark his enthusiasm for storytelling.

A career defined by imagination, not deadlines

Kevin Costner doesn’t measure time in terms of career milestones or looming retirements — he measures it by what inspires him next. At 70, the Hollywood icon is still fueled by the same creativity and curiosity that helped launch his film career more than four decades ago.

“I don’t even think about retiring, because I’ll just move to the next thing that captures my imagination,” Costner tells PEOPLE in an exclusive interview. “My imagination is what determines what I do, not a boss.”

That imaginative spirit has always guided his choices, from the sweeping frontier epic Dances With Wolves to the romantic tension of The Bodyguard, to the mythic baseball dreams of Field of Dreams. For Costner, art isn’t just a profession — it’s a pursuit of what stirs the soul.”We’re all different and we have different things happening for us,” he continues. “I’ve felt really lucky in my life. I’d like to think that I worked for all of it, but not everybody can live by the same blueprint.”

Costner’s blueprint, as it turns out, has been less about convention and more about carving his own cinematic trail — one rooted in authenticity, emotion, and American storytelling.

From the ‘80s to today: a storied legacy

Costner’s first film, Sizzle Beach, U.S.A., hit screens in 1981. But it was his breakout role in The Untouchables (1987) that helped solidify his status as a leading man. From there, he delivered a string of critically acclaimed performances in Bull Durham (1988), Field of Dreams (1989), and JFK (1991), proving that his acting range was as wide as the American landscapes his characters often traversed.

Perhaps most famously, Costner stepped behind the camera for Dances With Wolves (1990), which earned him Academy Awards for both Best Director and Best Picture — a rare feat, especially for a first-time director. The film remains a landmark in Hollywood history, balancing artistic integrity with box-office success.

And while Costner found major success in film, he also left his mark on television. His role in the 2012 miniseries Hatfields & McCoys earned him an Emmy, and from 2018 to 2023, he portrayed the stoic patriarch John Dutton in the hit Paramount series Yellowstone. That performance won him a Golden Globe and introduced a new generation to his brand of rugged, emotional storytelling.

Now, with the Horizon: An American Saga series — a four-part cinematic saga that Costner stars in, directs, writes, and produces — he continues to build upon his storytelling legacy. The first two installments are already available to stream, with two more on the way. These films represent not only Costner’s return to the Western genre but also his determination to tell expansive, character-driven stories on his own terms.

No bucket list, just boundless curiosity

Unlike many peers who slow down or seek a final act, Costner remains hungry for discovery. When asked if he still has goals or items left on a so-called “bucket list,” the answer is characteristically reflective. “I don’t have those things,” he says. “I have that list, [but] I don’t refer to it that way. But certainly my eyes and my enthusiasm are wide open and very big.”

That open-eyed perspective has carried him through every phase of his career — from big-budget productions to quiet character studies — and into his role as a father of seven. Time, he explains, has become one of the most valuable and motivating forces in his life. “I’ve so enjoyed life and imagining what I can do, what can I be about and what makes a difference,” he says. “Not only to me, but to other people. What just satisfies me?”

It’s that deep sense of purpose — not fame, not accolades — that continues to steer him forward. Horizon, in many ways, is a culmination of that purpose: a passion project born from his own ideas and brought to life through determination and vision. “I go through that whole idea,” he adds, “and you realize it’s about time. It’s a rush to get to all of them.”

Still chasing the next story

Costner’s love affair with storytelling shows no signs of waning. Whether acting, directing, or producing, he remains a vital creative force — one who challenges the idea that age must equal retreat. To him, the future is not a fixed point of rest, but an open frontier waiting to be explored.

As audiences stream the first two Horizon films and await the next chapters, Costner isn’t dwelling on legacy. He’s focused on what’s still to come — the next big idea, the next character, the next scene to shape.

In a world where Hollywood often prioritizes speed, spectacle, or fleeting trends, Kevin Costner’s enduring career is a reminder that slow-burning passion, rooted in authenticity and imagination, can still captivate hearts — and stand the test of time.