Kevin Costner Boards Surf Thriller Film ‘Headhunters’ as Star and Co-Writer
Kevin Costner is catching a wave toward his next film.
The Academy Award winner and his Territory Pictures are teaming with Scott Steindorff and his Stone Village Films on Headhunters in what will mark Costner’s newest project after dedicating much of his recent creative energy to his epic Horizon: An American Saga franchise. And he’s diving headfirst into Headhunters as an actor, producer and co-screenwriter.
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Accomplished cinematographer Steven Holleran will make his feature directorial debut on the film based on an idea he originated. He and Costner then collaborated on the script, which will take the veteran movie star a world away from the prairies, ranches and open country where he’s been spending so much screen time as of late on everything from Yellowstone to Horizon.
Described as a mashup that combines the “kinetic energy of surf culture with the suspense of horror,” Headhunters casts 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,” per the official logline.
Headhunters is currently in pre-production in Hawaii ahead of a November start date, with a source indicating that studios and streamers are now vying for distribution rights. Casting is currently underway though one part has already been set. Daniel Zovatto, a scene stealer and breakout star from such projects as Station Eleven, The Pope’s Exorcist and Penny Dreadful: City of Angels, has boarded the film and will star opposite Costner. The move reteams Zovatto with Steindorff, who executive produced the critically acclaimed HBO limited series Station Eleven and calls him “one of the finest young actors in Hollywood.”
In fact, Headhunters is swelling with reunions for many close friends and collaborators. “For decades, my friend Kevin and I have been searching for the right project to collaborate on,” Steindorff said of teaming with pal Costner. “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.”
Steindorff has previously worked with Holleran in his director of photography role on past produced projects like Netflix’s Firechasers and the upcoming documentary In Search of Love. He also had kind words to say about him, particularly about how he originated the Headhunters concept: “Steve has a keen eye. He pitched me this idea which was so unique and original. Working with him in the past has been nothing short of amazing, so I’m really looking forward to shooting Headhunters this fall.”
Holleran calls it “an honor and dream come true” to write the film with Costner and collaborate with Steindorff and his Stone Village Films team. “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.”
Their team is rounded out by cinematographer Ericson Core (Point Break, The Fast and the Furious), production design by Derek Hill (Ozark, Pirates of the Caribbean: The Curse of the Black Pearl) and costume design by Lisa Lovaas (Horizon 1: An American Saga, Renfield). In addition to Costner and Steindorff, the film is being produced by Costner’s partner at Territory Pictures Howard Kaplan, and Stone Village’s Dylan Russell, and Lindsay Davis with Jenna Ajlouny taking co-producer credit. Eric Hays is on board as physical producer.
Steindorff most recently executive produced Station Eleven and has Understanding Autism now streaming on PBS. Costner, repped by WME, recently executive produced and starred in the critically acclaimed Yellowstone for which he won a Golden Globe. Zovatto, who next stars opposite Anna Kendrick in her directorial debut Woman of the Hour, is repped by CAA and Lena Roklin at Luber Roklin Entertainment.
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