“They’re gonna end up believing you”: Kevin Costner Had to be Convinced He Was the Better Actor for One Role That Almost Went to Robin Williams at His Peak

Kevin Costner revealed that he was not sure if he was the right person for Field of Dreams and though Robin Williams would be a better fit.

Kevin Costner is one of the most well-known and talented actors in Hollywood.

On top of his excellent filmmaking skills as an Oscar-winning director, he has also made a name for himself through his stellar acting skills.

He has starred in several masterpieces over the years, turning into a household name in the best ways possible.

Kevin Costner in Horizon | Credit: Warner Bros.
Considering how much success he was able to gain at the very beginning of her career, it is difficult to imagine a time when Costner doubted his capabilities.

However, during an interview, the actor confessed that when he worked on the movie that made his career, he doubted if he was the best choice for the role.

So much so, that he asked the director to hire Robin Williams instead.

Kevin Costner Was Moved and Intimidated By Field of Dreams

During an interview with GQ, Kevin Costner took a trip down memory lane and looked back at some of his most iconic works throughout his career.

While there were certainly memorable performances in projects like Yellowstone, and Dances with Wolves, his very first steps into stardom started in the 1989 film, Field of Dreams.

Kevin Costner and Ray Liotta in Field Of Dreams (image credit: Universal Pictures).

In this segment of the interview, he started by talking about how he felt when he first read the script of the movie as an actor who was still making a name for himself.

Costner revealed that he did not care if the movie was going to be a hit or not.

His main attention was on the script itself, with it having moved him to a personal level.

A good story requires a good script for it to somehow leap off the page and become a movie.

That little movie had gold dust all over it, not in the way that I thought it would be a big hit, whereas gold dust on it in the way it moved me personally.

It is safe to say that this effect ended up intimidating him when it came to his own capabilities as an actor.

Wondering if he would be the right person for the role, he ended up turning to another actor who was at the peak of his success at the time.

There was an interesting thing because Robin Williams, bless his heart, there was a moment when I asked the director, I said, ’You know, Robin Williams is a big star, as big as you ever wanna get,’.

Robin Williams as Dr. Sean Maguire in Good Will Hunting | Credit: Miramax Films.

Costner confessed that he ended up approaching the direction, asking him to reconsider his choice in the lead.

He proposed that since Robin Williams was one of the biggest names at the time, he would be the perfect cast for the role.

The Director Had Faith in Kevin Costner

When the lead star of your own projects tells you that they think someone else would be better suited for a job, it is safe to say that confidence starts to stagger in their capabilities.

One would assume that the same was the case for Kevin Costner and the director of Field of Dreams, Phil Alden Robinson.

However, the reality was a lot different.

Field of Dreams | Credit: Universal Studios.

In the interview, he revealed that rather than casting Robin Williams in the role as he suggested, Robinson decided to put his faith in Costner.

The decision seemed to have confused the young actor quite a bit.

However, the director’s explanation was quite heartwarming.

So when he picked me to do it, kind of over Robin Williams, because it seems like a natural for Robin Williams, and he said, ’I’m pretty sure that Robin Williams hears voices in the corn.

I’m kind of sure that you don’t.

They’re gonna end up believing you, Kevin, because they’re gonna see how it works.’

Robinson told Costner he did not doubt that Williams could completely put himself in the shoes of the character that he was playing and immerse himself in the role.

However, he wanted to put his faith and trust in Costner.

It is safe to assume that this was a formative moment in the early years of the actor’s career.

Field of Dreams is available for streaming on Prime Video.