By Zorianna Kit
LOS ANGELES (The Hollywood Reporter) --- Academy Award winner Kevin Costner is returning to the director's chair for the first time in five years and, thematically, will explore some of the wide open spaces where he has enjoyed his greatest success.
The multihyphenate will direct, produce and star in the Western feature "Open Range" and is finalizing a deal to set it up at the Walt Disney Co.
Co-starring with Costner for the first time will be Robert Duvall. The project begins production in June in Calgary, Alberta.
Written by Craig Storper, "Range" is about the day-to-day travails of four men -- two of whom will be played by Costner and Duvall -- living in the West.
Costner and David Valdes are producing the project through their Tig Prods. Storper also is producing.
"It's a piece about a way of life coming to an end and the violence that accompanied it, which was the hallmark of settling the West," Costner said in an interview. "It is also a poetic piece that deals with a code of friendship and people who were willing to die abiding by that code."
Costner said he has long been drawn to the Western genre as evidenced by such projects of his as "Silverado," "Wyatt Earp" and "Dances With Wolves," which earned him best director and best picture Oscar wins.
"I enjoy the genre, the legacy and the history of it," he said. "And as a form of entertainment, I really respond to it."
Additionally, Costner said he was excited about doing business with Disney for the first time and in particular looks forward to working with Dick Cook, the newly named chairman of Walt Disney Studios.
"I've had a personal relationship with Dick Cook, and now it's evolved to a professional one, which is great," Costner said.
Costner is repped by CAA. Duvall is repped by his manager Rob Carliner.