Kevin Costner Calls ‘Horizon Chapter 2’ Release Delay a “Miracle” and Gets Emotional Over ‘Chapter 3’ at Venice Film Festival
Following the debut of Horizon: An American Saga – Chapter 1 at Cannes last May, Kevin Costner is now at the Venice Film Festival for the world premiere of the second installment in his Manifest Destiny epic, Horizon: An American Saga – Chapter 2. Directed by and starring Costner alongside Sienna Miller, Sam Worthington, Giovanni Ribisi, Isabelle Fuhrman, and Luke Wilson, the film will be screened out of competition this afternoon.
Costner, who co-wrote the epic with Jon Baird and produces under his Territory Pictures banner, has already scripted the third and fourth installments, with plans to shoot them soon. The Oscar winner has invested significantly in this passion project, previously estimating a personal expenditure of $98 million for the first three films, with the fourth pushing the total beyond $100 million. Despite the financial stakes, Costner is optimistic about the future of the saga.
The Venice Film Festival appearance for Chapter 2 follows a delay of its August 16 domestic release by New Line, due to the underwhelming box office performance of Chapter 1. Costner acknowledged the modest success of the first film but noted, “I’ve had a lot of movies like that that have stood the test of time.”
Unfazed by the release shift, Costner reflected on how the delay worked in his favor, saying, “It was a studio decision to release it six weeks later. And it became a studio decision to not,” which aligned with his original plan to release the films about five to six months apart. “That was always my goal, and suddenly it’s happened. It’s a miracle.”
Discussing the future of the series, Costner hinted at the challenges ahead. “If you expect anything from Part 2, you realize that 2 gets harder than 1. It’s hard to go west. Three is the same thing. It gets harder. But I will tell you this, Chapter 3 is devastating. You begin to know these characters, and life keeps coming at them.” He emphasized his determination to continue, saying, “I have to hurry and not let the rock fall back downhill. I’ve gotta go put my hands on it again and start to push it up. It’s a rope that I cannot let go of.” His voice grew emotional as he added, “I don’t know how I’m gonna make 3 right now, but I’m gonna make it.”
Costner elaborated on his choice of subject, expressing his fascination with the American journey and its historical significance. “When people left Europe to cross the Atlantic, they saw a continent with nothing but promise,” he said. “It was a 300, 400-year march from sea to shining sea, undertaken by our ancestors in a land with nothing but animals and people who lived lightly on it.”
Reflecting on the West, Costner mused, “It’s not Disneyland; it’s a place where the story unfolded inch by inch. I wanted to tell that story through the eyes of women, as they run through every storyline in Horizon. It’s a reminder of the struggle and part of our history.”
Costner emphasized that Horizon is not a political message but a reminder of the challenging journey that shaped America. “Movies speak to us individually. We all watch the same thing in the dark, but it means something different to each of us.”
He also reminisced about his previous visit to Venice 35 years ago for Silverado. He recalled walking into a theater to find an enthusiastic audience for his film Fandango, leading to a transformative experience. “The audience clapped for the movie, and then they turned to me. I realized I was making movies for the world, not just America,” he said.
Both Horizon: An American Saga – Chapter 1 and Chapter 2 are screening at Venice. Costner sees this as a testament to the festival’s belief in the films and support for his vision.
