It appears as if Kevin Costner is trading giddy ups for cowabungas, setting aside his epic Western saga Horizon to instead pick up a surfboard in the new thriller titled Headhunters. Horizon: An American Saga – Chapter 1 debuted to dismal results earlier this year, failing to make back its $50 million budget that was largely financed by Costner himself, taking in just $38 million at the box office. Since then, the future of the 4-part series has been called into question, and for now at least, it looks as if things are on a permanent hiatus.
Per The Hollywood Reporter, Costner has signed on to star in Headhunters, a movie he’ll also produce through his Territory Pictures, and one that he co-wrote with director Steven Holleran, who will be making his feature film debut. Pre-production has already begun in Hawaii, with principal photography expected to get underway in November. The only additional cast member announced at this time is Daniel Zovatto, who’s best known for his roles as Father Esquibel in The Pope’s Exorcist, and Detective Tiago Vega in Penny Dreadful: City of Angels. Check out the official synopsis of Headhunters below, which honestly, doesn’t sound too bad.
“Headhunters stars Costner as Lazer, a washed-up American ex-pat with a mysterious past who finds himself living in Bali, Indonesia. Lazer recruits a group of surfers led by Bima, a local photographer, on a journey to an uncharted island to pioneer a perfect wave. To their surprise, the island is home to an ancient tribe of headhunters guarding the land at all costs. What ensues is an adventure turned survival story of epic and bloody proportions on a tropical island which once seemed to be paradise… but is actually closer to hell.”
What Does This Mean for the Future of Horizon?
Before the release of Horizon Chapter 1, the expectation was for all four parts to debut in quick succession so that audiences wouldn’t have to wait years between sequels. Unfortunately, its depressing box office performance put a stop to all that, causing Chapter 2’s release on August 16 to be postponed by New Line Cinema so that things could be reevaluated. Though it did make its premiere at the 81st Venice International Film Festival on September 7, the sequel has yet to set a date for a theatrical presentation, with a promise instead of “some point in late 2024,” however with time ticking away in the year, even that’s been called into question.
As far as Horizon Chapters 3 and 4 go, with Costner taking on Headhunters, it’s now become painstakingly obvious that the Western series is taking a backseat to other projects, perhaps in an effort for the actor to recoup some of his losses by taking a paycheck somewhere, thus providing him with the funds he needs to help finance his last two movies.
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It’s a shame, really, as Horizon has been something near and dear to Costner for the better part of three decades, but he’s still determined to pull off the remaining chapters one way or another, saying during an emotional speech at the premiere of Chapter 2 in Venice, “I don’t know how I’m gonna make 3 right now, but I’m gonna make it.” Let’s hope Headhunters provides a way forward for him, and that he’s able to complete his magnum opus instead of this being the end of his dreams.
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