Horizon's Questionable Future Addressed by an Emotional Kevin Costner (2024)

Despite failing to meet expectations, Kevin Coster is still hopeful that he will be able to finish his epic Western saga, Horizon. Produced on a budget of $50 million dollars, Horizon: An American Saga - Chapter 1 earned just $34 million during its short theatrical run. Hoping to recoup some of its losses, the film was made available to rent or purchase on PVOD platforms less than three weeks later. While Chapter 2 of the four-part series was expected to release earlier this month, plans for a theatrical debut came to a screeching halt following the dismal performance of the first part, and it will now premiere at the 81st Venice International Film Festival on September 7. It’s unclear at this point if it will ever receive a run in cinemas, or if it will go straight to streaming.

Sitting down with TODAY for an in depth interview about Horizon and the creative process, Costner – who wrote, starred in, and directed the Western saga he’s had brewing for years – discussed what the future holds for Chapters 3 and 4. He says that having already shot parts of Chapter 3, he’s still trying his best to complete the series. Not only because he doesn’t want to leave anybody hanging, but because he made a promise to himself that he intends to keep.

"I love the journey of this thing. It’s been the hardest thing I’ve ever done, but I love this movie. I love the second one — and the third one’s even harder than the first two, and the fourth one completes the story. I made a promise to myself, I’m trying desperately to keep it, and to bring it to people, these kind of giant stories, and I hope that people fall in love with these characters... The plan is, I’ve already shot a little bit of the third. And to perhaps shoot them back to back next spring."

Horizon

2/5

Horizon centers around fictional characters and takes place in pre- and post-Civil War America, and details the exploration of the American West. Depicting a twelve-year span, the movies feature an ensemble cast portraying various characters and their experiences pioneering into new territory from their homes.

Release Date

June 28, 2024

Director

Kevin Costner

Cast

Kevin Costner , Sienna Miller , Jena Malone , Luke Wilson , Sam Worthington , Michael Rooker , Thomas Haden Church , Jamie Campbell Bower , Isabelle Fuhrman

Runtime

3h 1m

Main Genre

Western

Will Horizon Find New Life on Streaming?

Having just premiered on Max on August 23, it’s too early to tell if Horizon Chapter 1 will find new life – and a new audience – on streaming. While it performed well enough as a PVOD release, and considering that many films that have less than stellar run at the box office have managed to claw their way to the top of the charts, there’s a good chance it might, but will it be enough to prove to the heads at Warner Bros. that the remaining films deserve a chance? Costner is hopeful, but admits that it could take some time.

"A lot of times, the things that you want to make don’t immediately resonate with anyone else. It’s only after you’re done that people begin to understand what it was, and almost, they take ownership themselves, of 'I love this movie. I love these characters. I didn’t know where this story was going.' It’s nice in life to be surprised."

As we await news about when and where Horizon: An American Saga - Chapter 2 will be released, we can only put our hopes in Costner that he’ll be able to deliver on all that he promised when he started his journey. It would be a shame for what could be his last great hurrah to fall by the wayside.