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With a career spanning several decades, Kevin Costner has established himself as one of the most iconic leading men along with acclaimed filmmakers in Hollywood. While the actor has recently gained recognition as the patriarch of the Dutton family in the Western dramaYellowstone, Costner also has a long-standing association with baseball movies, including the 1989 filmField of Dreams.
However, the actor later revealed that he was not the sole contender chosen to play the midwestern farmer who builds a baseball field in his backyard, as Robin Williams was also considered for the role before the filmmaker changed his mind.
Field of DreamsDirector Chose Kevin Costner Over Robin Williams
Directed by Phil Alden Robinson,Field of Dreamsfollows a farmer who goes on to build a baseball field in his cornfield after he starts hearing voices along with visions of a baseball diamond. The film performed pretty great at the box office and even went on to earn three Oscar nominations, including Best Picture.
Kevin Costner, who took on the lead role as Ray Kinsella in the movie, later revealed that he initially believed he would not be able to do the film, as he was busy with the production of the 1990 romantic thriller,Revenge.
And for a brief period, the late actorRobin Williamswas even in talks to star in the movie.“I just thought [Field of Dreams] was beautiful, but it wasn’t going to be in the cards,”Costner toldEntertainment Weeklybefore adding,“There was an idea that maybe Robin Williams was going to do it, who I thought was sensational.”
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However, Robinson chose theYellowstonestar over Williams, which even surprised Costner himself, as he believed that the Oscar-winning actor could have been great in the movie. When he asked the reason why Robinson chose him over theJumanjistar, he told him,
“And he was like, ‘I do too. But I think that Robin could hear voices in the corn, and I needed a guy that you don’t believe is going to hear a voice in a corn. And I thought that was a really insightful thing. I get a lot of credit for Field of Dreams and all the credit goes to Phil. I just played it.”
Field of Dreamshas since become one of the most iconic performances of the 69-year-old actor, telling the tale of an Iowa corn farmer grappling with the fear of insignificance, while exploring the deeper theme of familial relationships and personal growth. And the actor has credited the Emmy-winning filmmaker for its success.
Kevin Costner Reflected on WhyField of Dreamsis Truly Exceptional
Further into his conversation with Entertainment Weekly, Kevin Costner called the film very special to him, saying,“It is a personal favorite.”He also reflected on what makes the film truly exceptional in an appearance onLate Night with Conan O’Brien,comparing it to the classic filmIt’s a Wonderful Life.
“That movie is, I think that’s our generation’s Wonderful Life. It’s a Wonderful Life. And it happens. And it doesn’t matter how often you watch that movie, when you ask your dad, ‘Have a catch?’ It seems to get people and I’m just glad to have films like that.”
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The Untouchablesstar also highlighted the magic of cinema, noting that the films have the power to create unexpected moments of connection and transcendence. He expressed his belief in the transformative potential of storytelling through films, as they hold the power to create unexpected moments of connection and transcendence.“And that’s why I believe in the movies. And that’s why I make ’em,”he said.
Field of Dreamsis available on Prime Video.
Laxmi Rajput
Senior Writer
Articles Published :3448
Laxmi Rajput is a Senior Writer at FandomWire, with over 3,300 articles published covering film, TV, and pop culture. With a degree in Broadcast Journalism and over three years of experience in content writing, she pivoted to entertainment journalism because let’s be honest, superheroes, sitcoms, and Netflix binges are way more fun. Laxmi frequently covers Marvel, Harry Potter, Star Wars, and popular TV shows, offering both fan-first enthusiasm and thoughtful analysis. Her work often dives into Marvel theories, revisits the genius of The Big Bang Theory, or unpacks the Netflix phenomenon of Stranger Things.
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