Kevin Costner‘s Horizon: American Saga – Chapter 1 looks to be a box office fail grossing only $33 million worldwide so far. The film is largely out of theaters, but this doesn’t faze Costner. Neither does the fact that New Line Cinema has pulled the premiere of Chapter 2, opting to debut it during the Venice Film Festival in September. Chapter 1 reportedly cost about $50 million to make with Costner putting in around $38 million of his own money—yes, you read that right—Costner ponied up his own money to produce Chapter 1.
While Costner’s a bonafide superstar now, it’s hard to believe that one of his earliest roles ended up on the cutting room floor. Back in the ’80s, Costner filmed several flashback scenes as Alex, a victim of suicide. It’s his death that brings together his friends for a somber reunion in The Big Chill. That unseen role ended up leading to a part in Silverado which was deemed his “breakout role”. This led to starring roles in The Untouchables and No Way Out and a little film called Field of Dreams.
With his mega-star status solidified, Costner decided he wanted to direct and chose a script a friend of his wrote called Dances with Wolves as his first foray into directing. Costner had difficulty securing financing for the 3-hour-plus film that would have English subtitles along with native Lakota spoken throughout the film. He eventually found financing with Orion Pictures and production began. While many still had their doubts, Dances with Wolves would go on to gross almost $425 million worldwide and win seven Academy Awards including Best Picture and Best Director for Costner.
Knowing that, perhaps we should reserve judgement then for Horizon: An American Saga.
Imagined as a four-part series, the first two chapters of Horizon: American Saga are already in the can with Chapter 1 already released in theatres. Chapter 2 was set to premiere in August, but has been pulled from the release schedule. It will now have its premiere on Sept. 7 at the Venice Film Festival. While Chapter 3 began filming in May 2024. It’s unclear when and if Chapter 4 will go into production. The film counts some A-List talent among its cast including Sienna Miller, Jenna Malone, Abbey Lee, Luke Wilson, Giovanni Ribisi, Sam Worthington, Will Patton, Michael Rooker, Danny Huston, Jeff Fahey, and Kathleen Quinlan. Horizon: An American Saga follows multiple decades of a post-Civil War era expansion of the American West.
While the film’s box office receipts might appear dismal to some and miniscule to that of Dances with Wolves, one should factor in that less people, in general, are going to the movies. With the price of admission and concessions increasing steadily for years, it can easily cost a family of four $100 or more to see a movie these days. Now that the window between a theatrical release to digital is so short, many now opt to wait for films to come to DVD, streaming, or VOD. Horizon: An American Saga – Chapter One had a digital release less than a month from its theatrical premiere and hit No. 1 on VOD once it was available.
Costner doesn’t appear to have any regrets leaving Yellowstone in order to begin production on Horizon: An American Saga. At the time Costner decided to exit the series, there were no finalized scripts or production start date for Season 5B of Yellowstone. Along with rising tensions rumored between the star and the show’s creator, Taylor Sheridan, Costner decided to step away from the uber-popular Paramount Network drama in order to focus on Horizon. Season 5B of Yellowstone, which will be its final season, began production back in May and is set to premiere on Sunday, Nov. 10, 2024. The Madison, a modern-day spinoff series with Michelle Pfeiffer set to star and executive produce, is planned for a 2025 release
