“Kevin Costner’s Bold Move: The Self-Financed Western Epic ‘Horizon’ Makes Its Debut”

In recent weeks, there’s been a flood of coverage about “Horizon: An American Saga,” the ambitious three-hour epic that marks Kevin Costner’s bold gamble as he writes, produces, directs, and stars in the first of four planned films about the American West.

You’ve probably heard that these films are a significant financial undertaking. The first installment alone cost $100 million to produce and is set to be followed by its sequel just weeks later. It’s also become well-known that Costner has invested a substantial $38 million of his own money into the project, a rare and candid move from a high-profile actor who has chosen to place a big bet on himself. The box office forecasts suggest a disappointing $10 to $15 million opening weekend, and early reviews are less than encouraging, with an average score of just 40% on Rotten Tomatoes.