Kevin Costner and Francis Ford Coppola are uniquely placed in the world of cinema right now, with both critically acclaimed directors standing on the brink of disaster with two “passion project” releases. Costner has once again been addressing the future of his epic Western saga, Horizon , but even the passion of Costner might not be enough to see his ambitious project through to its conclusion.
Costner’s plans for Horizon were never anything other than crazy in a time when audiences’ cinematic preferences are in a constant state of flux and every movie is as likely to fail as it is to succeed. After putting a reported $100 million – or more – into the project so far, Horizon: An American Saga – Chapter One’s mixed reviews and dismal $36 million box office has threatened to derail the next three installments. Speaking at the Venice Film Festival (via Deadline), Costner delivered a speech that was as doubtful as it was determined in its appraisal of Horizon’s future.
“If there’s anything that you expect from part 2, you realize that 2 is harder than 1. It’s hard to go West. 3 is the same thing. It gets harder. But I will tell you this. Chapter 3 is devastating because… You begin to know all these people. Life keeps coming at them and you will see that… They’re all written. I have to hurry… Now that the rock [fell] back downhill, I have to go put my hands on it again and start to push it up. It’s a rope that I can’t let go [of.] I don’t know how I’m gonna make 3 right now, but I’m gonna make it.”
Horizon Found Success on Streaming
Just like many movies of the last two years, Horizon’s theatrical failure was countered by a strong debut when the film quickly made its way to Max. Immediately topping the streamer’s movie chart, it enjoyed its time in the spotlight, and continues yo-yo around list of the most popular movies on the platform.
Originally, Horizon was promoted as a two-part summer event, with Chapter Two being slated for release in August. However, with Chapter One failing to attract a large crowd, Warner Bros. pulled the follow-up from schedules and moved forward the first movie’s Max debut. Strategically hoping to put the first movie in front of more people before releasing the second, it is still unclear whether the streaming success of Chapter One has been enough to convince the studio to continue with the project.
Costner really wants to ride out on his personal journey to bring Horizon to cinemas as a complete story, but the completion of every big budget multiple-movie franchise is reliant on the resulting movies paying their way. There have been several franchises that have taken such a gamble in the past, such as Peter Jackson being given the unprecedented green light to make all three of his Lord of the Rings movies without any promise that the films would succeed. While that gamble was one that paid off, it is hard to see a scenario where Horizon is even able to break even, let alone turn any kind of profit.
Horizon: An American Saga – Chapter One
is streaming now on Max.
Chapter Two
debuted at the Venice Film Festival and will be released on February 28, 2025.