“Exciting Update on Kevin Costner’s Horizon Project”
It looks like Kevin Costner might be enjoying a bit of vindication with Horizon: An American Saga.
Earlier this month, when Costner’s Territory Pictures and distribution partner New Line Cinema announced that the release of Chapter 2 would be delayed from its original August 16 date, there was considerable speculation about whether the entire four-part Western epic would ever achieve theatrical success. Some critics even suggested that, despite having completed Chapter 2, Chapters 3 and 4 might never make it to the big screen.
The disappointing performance of Horizon: An American Saga — Chapter 1 at the box office following its heavily publicized June 28 release led to a strategic shift. Instead of its planned theatrical run, Chapter 1 was quickly made available for digital rental or purchase. A New Line spokesperson stated this move aimed to give audiences a better chance to discover the first installment before Chapter 2’s rescheduled debut.
However, the strategy appears to be paying off. In its first week of digital release, Horizon 1 has soared to the No. 1 spot on the charts.
Tom Brueggemann of IndieWire notes, “The rapid shift to home viewing after just 18 days—a common practice for Universal with its biggest hits—seems to be a wise decision. It indicates there is an audience for the film, even if they prefer watching it at home rather than in theaters.
“This could provide a much-needed boost for the project, potentially turning it around financially and increasing anticipation for Chapter 2, whenever and wherever it premieres.”
