The much-anticipated second chapter of Kevin Costner’s ambitious Western epic Horizon: An American Saga has been cancelled, marking a disappointing turn of events for the actor-turned-director. The film’s theatrical release, slated for August 16, has been scrapped, citing the need to allow audiences more time to discover the first instalment. This decision comes on the heels of the first film’s underwhelming box office performance, which brought in a modest $23 million in its first two weeks.
The initial plan was to release the two Horizon films back-to-back, with the second chapter set to arrive just four to five months after the first. However, the distributor, New Line Cinema, has decided to shift gears, opting to focus on promoting the first film instead. The first chapter, which premiered at the Cannes Film Festival in May, reportedly cost a whopping $100 million to make, making its ability to reach profitability a monumental challenge.
Costner’s passion project has been in the works for over three decades, and the actor-director has invested some of his own money into the endeavour. Despite the setback, he remains committed to the project, having already begun shooting the third instalment. In an earlier interview, Costner expressed his enthusiasm for the back-to-back release strategy, stating that the studio believed audiences would be better able to remember the first film and its connection to the second instalment.
The cancellation of Horizon: Chapter 2’s theatrical release is a humbling acknowledgement of the film’s failure to resonate with audiences. As a result, the second chapter’s release date has been marked as TBD on the theatrical calendar. The first film, meanwhile, will be available on premium on-demand on July 16, with a streaming date on Max yet to be announced.
Kevin Costner (Via Kevin Costner/Twitter)
Costner’s involvement in the Horizon saga extends beyond his creative role, as he has also announced his exit from the hit series Yellowstone. He has confirmed that the ultimate destination of the Horizon series was always intended for television, with plans to repurpose the film footage into a longer, more episodic format. The actor-director has expressed his desire to see the completed films broken down into more manageable pieces, which could ultimately become a 13-14 hour TV series.
Despite the setbacks, Costner remains committed to his vision, stating that he paid for the film himself and will continue to work on the project until its completion. The fate of Horizon: An American Saga may have taken a turn for the worse, but it remains to be seen how the series will ultimately unfold, and whether Costner’s passion project can still find its intended audience.
