“Kevin Costner Acknowledges First Horizon Movie’s Limited Success but Believes It Will Endure Over Time”
Kevin Costner recently opened up about his Horizon film series at the 2024 Venice Film Festival. During an interview on Saturday, September 7, the 69-year-old actor discussed the world premiere of Horizon: An American Saga – Chapter 2 and the decision to delay its initial release from August 16.
Costner revealed that the delay was influenced by the performance of Chapter 1, which debuted at the Cannes Film Festival in May and hit theaters on June 28. “It didn’t have overwhelming success,” Costner admitted, as reported by Variety. However, he remains optimistic, noting that many of his films that initially struggled have ultimately stood the test of time.
The studio initially planned to release Chapter 2 six weeks after the first film but later decided against the August 16 release date. On July 10, Costner’s company, Territory Pictures, and distributor New Line Cinema announced a revised strategy for the sequel.
Despite the changes, Costner expressed satisfaction with the outcome. “For me, it fell back into my plan, which was to release the movies about five to six months apart. That allowed me to come to Venice,” Costner said. He praised the Venice Film Festival for its role in showcasing the film, noting that artistic director Alberto Barbera played a crucial role in bringing the project to the festival. “He gave me my dream and didn’t allow it to be squashed,” Costner added.
On Instagram, Costner expressed his gratitude, writing, “The festival’s decision to premiere the second Horizon movie and screen the first earlier in the day demonstrates their belief in how the films work together and their support for a director’s vision.” He continued, “I’m indebted to Alberto Barbera for his courage and leadership in committing to this cinematic journey. It is with gratitude and excitement that I return to the Venice Film Festival. Long live the movies and those willing to stand for them.”
The ensemble cast of the Horizon series includes Sienna Miller, Sam Worthington, Jena Malone, Abbey Lee, Michael Rooker, Danny Huston, Luke Wilson, Isabelle Fuhrman, Jeff Fahey, Will Patton, Tatanka Means, Owen Crow Shoe, Ella Hunt, and Jamie Campbell Bower.
Additionally, Costner revealed at Cannes in May that he is actively filming the third installment of the series. Horizon: An American Saga – Chapter 2 currently does not have a release date.
