Potential new celebrity couple alert! Something’s reportedly brewing between Kevin Costner and Demi Moore, and has been for months. According to an insider, things between the two started picking up steam after Moore lost at the 2025 Oscars. But for Costner, his crush on The Substance star goes back nearly 20 years. 

Kevin and Demi are flirting, after getting in touch after she lost at the Oscars

As a source told Radar Online, Costner consoled Moore, 62, after she lost the Academy Award for Best Actress to Anora’s 26-year-old Mikey Madison. “It’s no secret that losing out to a woman less than half her age was a hard blow for Demi,” the insider said. (Her reaction went viral on Oscars night.)

“Kevin has been going out of his way to remind her that she’s still one of the most gorgeous women in the world,” they continued. “But he definitely has an ulterior motive.” The two have been flirting for some time, they added, noting Costner, 70, wants to make sparks fly in a “gentlemanly way.”  

“Now Kevin’s looking to strike in the most gentlemanly way by cheering her on and encouraging her not to give up,” the source explained. “He’s not just blowing smoke either; he really believes she’s massively talented and could easily get another shot at the Oscar.” 

Moore and Costner have been friends for years, crush started for him in 2007

A friendship began between Costner and Moore when they auditioned for Flashdance. (Neither landed parts in the now-iconic 1983 movie.) However, the insider claimed the seeds of a crush were planted for Costner when they co-starred in 2007’s Mr. Brooks. “Nothing ever happened between them,” they said. “But it’s no secret he was pretty wowed by her.” 

In the years since the Dances with Wolves star has gushed about Moore. “Any time her name has come up, he’s had nothing but good things to say.” Now that they’re both single, Costner’s looking to actor Billy Bob Thornton, to play cupid of sorts. 

Why Thornton? Because he’s a mutual friend of theirs. Plus, the 69-year-old actor stars in the Paramount+ series, Landman, alongside Moore. “Billy Bob has been very close to Demi for decades. So he’s the perfect person to help ease things along,” the source said. “He’s been telling Kevin to go for Demi for the longest time.” 

“It’s really up to Demi if she wants to take the flirtation further. And friends think she definitely should,” they added. 

Getting ‘revenge’ on his ex-wife is a ‘bonus’ of the new romance for Costner 

The insider also shared that dating Moore would come with the “bonus” of making his ex-wife, Christine Baumgartner, “jealous.” Baumgartner filed for divorce from the Yellowstone star, with whom she shares three children, in 2023 after 18 years of marriage.

Following a contentious legal battle, the two finalized their divorce in February 2024. Since then, Baumgartner has become engaged to Costner’s former friend, financier Josh Connor. 

“Kevin wants a bit of revenge on Christine, and he’s sure she’d be jealous to see Demi on his arm,” the source said. “That’s not the only reason he wants to date Demi—but it would definitely be a bonus.”