Kevin Costner Plots His Comeback: New Projects, a Private Romance and a Fresh Start After Tough Year (Exclusive)

Kevin Costner closed out 2025 far from Hollywood soundstages and swirling headlines, retreating to Aspen, Colorado — a place he’s long considered home. In mid-December, he shared a video of his Labrador, Bobby, running through the snow against a stunning backdrop of white-capped mountains, and he was later spotted on a night out with his daughter Lily and a few friends ahead of New Year’s Eve. The Oscar-winning actor, who owns a sprawling 160-acre ranch just minutes from downtown, looked handsome and relaxed in blue jeans and a camel coat as he and the small group departed a restaurant. “Aspen,” a source tells Us Weekly, “is where Kevin is happiest.”It was a welcome escape. In October, The Hollywood Reporter published a scathing article titled “How Kevin Lost Hollywood,” highlighting Costner’s recent career setbacks, including the lackluster performance of the first installment of his lofty Horizon film series, multiple lawsuits over unpaid costume fees and his unceremonious 2024 exit from Yellowstone. The article detailed an explosive fight that took place between Costner, 71, and his Yellowstone costar Wes Bentley during filming; the argument — which reportedly ended in a shouting match after Costner lunged at Bentley — temporarily shut down productionAs the dust settles and 2026 begins, the star is doing his best to recalibrate. “This period of life has been a huge adjustment for Kevin,” says a second source, noting that Costner’s been feeling more “introspective” since his 2024 divorce from his wife of 18 years, Christine Baumgartner. (Costner and Baumgartner, who married financier Josh Connor in October, are parents to kids Cayden, 18, Hayes, 16, and Grace, 15; Costner is also dad to Annie, 41, Lily, 39, Joe, 37, and Liam, 29, from previous relationships.

He has several projects in the works and has been casually dating 46-year-old writer Kelly Noonan Gores since the summer. “Kevin has spent the last year trying to figure out what’s next for him,” shares the source, “and he’s embracing the journey.” Adds a third source: “He’s telling his inner circle that 2026 is his redemption year.”Costner is known for taking risks, but lately, they haven’t exactly been paying off. He put $38 million of his own money — including a mortgage on his Santa Barbara beach house — into Horizon, but it failed to recoup its large budget. Three planned sequels are currently stalled. “Of course, he was disappointed that Horizon wasn’t more successful. He put his all into it,” says a fourth source, noting that Costner “still isn’t giving up” on the project. The third source says “it’s not looking good” for future installments. “Everyone thought the first one would be a success and it wasn’t, so that changed things.” Costner and Horizon producers settled one lawsuit over costume fees in July, but another was filed in late December; a stuntwoman has also sued Costner and the producers, alleging she was subjected to an unscripted rape scene. Costner called the allegations “patently false” and “deeply disappointing,” adding that they were designed to damage his reputation.