Kevin Costner says he 'selfishly' cast his son in 'Horizon': 'He's really beautiful in the movie'

• Kevin Costner cast his son Hayes in his Western film "Horizon: An American Saga" for companionship, he told "Today."
• Costner acknowledged the criticism of nepotism in Hollywood.
• "I realize there are so many young actors out there that would just kill to be in this movie," he said.

Kevin Costner cast his son Hayes in his upcoming epic Western "Horizon: An American Saga" for a simple reason: he wanted his companionship on set.

"He's a beautiful boy, and he's quiet," Costner told "Today" of his 15-year-old son Hayes. "And I have not shoved my children into the business."

Still, he's seemingly aware that the "nepo baby" reactions to his casting are soon to come. "I realize there are so many young actors out there that would just kill to be in this movie," Costner continued, "and I don't want to take those parts away from them just 'cause I can place my own children in."

"Horizon" marks Hayes' screen debut. He plays Nathaniel Kittredge, the teenage son of Sienna Miller's character, Frances. Meanwhile, Costner's character, Hayes Ellison, is named after his son.

"It was a smaller part," Costner said of his son's role. "I selfishly wanted him with me for the week, two weeks, he was with me. And we would drive to the set every day."

Costner described his son's performance in the film as "really beautiful." "It's a really complicated scene. In the end, there's a nobility, there's an absolute fatalness about it. It's what you want in a son," he said.

The movie, opening June 28, is the first chapter of Costner's four-part franchise about America's westward expansion post-Civil War. Chapter Two will be released in theaters on August 16.