Why Kevin Costner’s John Dutton Lost His Edge in Yellowstone’s Horizon Despite More Screen Time
Kevin Costner’s Horizon: An American Saga Falters Where Yellowstone Thrived Despite Similar Themes
Kevin Costner’s ambitious Horizon: An American Saga appears to be stuck in limbo after its first chapter underperformed at the box office. Costner not only directed but also self-financed the film, reportedly selling part of his estate to help cover the $100 million budget. Released in June, the first installment earned a disappointing $36 million, casting doubt over the future of the planned four-part saga.
This bold directorial effort reportedly came at the expense of Costner’s highly successful neo-Western TV show Yellowstone. After creative clashes with the show’s creator, Taylor Sheridan, and the studio, Costner departed from the series. While Costner has long been regarded as a master of the Western genre, it seems he stumbled in a crucial area with Horizon—an area where Yellowstone excelled.
What Horizon Couldn’t Achieve but Yellowstone Did Flawlessly
Kevin Costner first cemented his reputation as a Western icon with his Oscar-winning directorial debut Dances with Wolves, a film credited with revitalizing the Western genre in Hollywood. Notably, it is only the fourth Western in Academy Awards history to win Best Picture, alongside classics like Unforgiven and No Country for Old Men.
However, Costner appears to have missed the mark with Horizon: An American Saga. The project, which has been in development since the 1980s and was largely self-funded, only managed to earn $36 million against its hefty $100 million budget, putting the continuation of the saga on hold.
So why did Horizon fail where Yellowstone succeeded? Both share many similarities: they are Westerns deeply rooted in American culture, exploring themes of tradition clashing with progress and change. Both narratives also involve multiple characters and interwoven storylines set against a transforming landscape.
The critical difference lies in pacing and character development. Yellowstone offers ample screen time for its characters to grow and evolve across multiple episodes and seasons. Despite Kevin Costner’s John Dutton not always being front and center—and now having exited the show—the series thrived because of this expansive storytelling approach. Conversely, Horizon tried to condense complex stories and character arcs into a single three-hour film, which may have hindered emotional engagement and depth.
Costner’s Reflection on Yellowstone and Horizon Similarities
Kevin Costner portrayed John Dutton in Yellowstone for over four seasons, eventually leaving amid tensions with Taylor Sheridan and the studio ahead of the show’s final season. Observers have noted striking structural similarities between Horizon and Yellowstone, with many suggesting that Horizon might have been better suited as a television series.
Interestingly, Costner suggested that Yellowstone may have drawn inspiration from Horizon early on. He revealed that he had shared the Horizon script with Sheridan during the second season of Yellowstone, when Sheridan was seeking writers. Costner remarked, “I don’t know if there are any duplications there. Whether he borrowed something, only he’d have to admit to.”
Previously, Yellowstone itself faced accusations of borrowing storylines from popular Western shows and films, including Dallas and even Costner’s own Dances with Wolves.
