We Have Proof of Life For Kevin Costner's 'Horizon' Sequel
In Yellowstone, Kevin Costner's John Dutton would go to the ends of the earth to protect his family. In the real world, it seems that nothing will stop the actor from his own mission: directing and starring in his four-part Western epic, titled Horizon: An American Saga. The first entry got the franchise off to a rocky start last summer. The film wasn't a hit with critics at the Cannes Film Festival, and it underperformed at the box office shortly after. But Costner will do whatever it takes to make sure that Horizon lives longer than John Dutton.
According to The Hollywood Reporter, Horizon: An American Saga – Chapter 2 will have its U.S. premiere at this year's Santa Barbara International Film Festival. The screening will take place at 7 February, followed by a Q&A with Costner himself. The festival also plans to to showcase a behind-the-scenes documentary about the making of the film, titled Beyond the Horizon.
Initially, New Line Cinema planned to release the second film just six weeks after the first. However, Horizon posted poor box office numbers. The first film "grossed a disappointing $38 million worldwide," THR reported. Plus, "the combined budget for the two Horizon films was $100 million, $38 million of which was fronted by Costner himself." At least Costner made his investment back.
The actor soldiered on. He premiered Horizon: An American Saga – Chapter 2 at last year's Venice Film Festival—even after New Line Cinema removed the project from its calendar. "It didn't have overwhelming success," Costner admitted to reporters about the first film, according to Variety. "I've had a lot of movies that way that have stood the test of time."
The second film currently does not have a release date. "For me, it fell back into my plan, which was I always wanted to come out with movies about five-six months apart," Costner explained. "When I feel rejection, unlike anybody else, when I open my eyes from my disappointment, my desire is only increased."
For what to expect next from Horizon, continue reading below.
What Is Horizon: An American Saga – Chapter 2 About?
In the first film, Costner plays a horse trader named Hayes Ellison who saves a desperate woman and her son from a psychotic killer. Taking place in Montana in the late 1800s, the movie contains many other semi-connected vignettes. The story kicks off with an Apache rebellion at the titular town of Horizon, ending with the extended family of the dead embarking on the Santa Fe Trail to enact their revenge.
Chapter 2 continues the story of the survivors as they prepare for their next fight. Returning cast members Sienna Miller, Sam Worthington, Danny Huston, Luke Wilson, Giovanni Ribisi, Thomas Haden Church, and others reprise their characters from the first film. According to the film's logline, it's a "multi-faceted depiction of the Civil War expansion and settlement of the American West."
When Does Horizon: An American Saga – Chapter 2 Premiere?
There is no plan as of yet for Horizon's second chapter to hit theaters. Costner's hope is that—much as the first film did when it premiered at Cannes—the second film's U.S. premiere will reignite buzz for the franchise. The actor also still hopes to finish his four-part epic with two more films. "I don't know how I'm going to make 'Three' right now," he told reporters at a press conference in Venice. "But I'm going to make it."
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