Kevin Costner Eyes Netflix to Cover Costly ‘Horizon’ Gamble
Kevin Costner Eyes Netflix to Rescue ‘Horizon’ Franchise Amid Financial Strain
Kevin Costner is looking to the horizon — and hoping Netflix is there to meet him.
After a disappointing theatrical run, Horizon: An American Saga — Chapter One is gaining new life on Netflix, where it recently broke into the platform’s Top 10. The strong streaming performance has reportedly reignited Costner’s hope that Netflix might step in to acquire the franchise and help relieve the substantial debt he’s accumulated.
“Kevin is good at projecting calm and confidence, but behind the scenes, the Horizon project has taken a serious toll — financially, physically, and intellectually,” a source close to the production told the outlet.
Despite featuring a star-studded cast including Sienna Miller, Sam Worthington, Luke Wilson, and Giovanni Ribisi, Chapter One underperformed at the box office, grossing only $36 million against its $100 million budget after premiering at Cannes in May 2024. Costner reportedly invested $38 million of his own money into the film.
The sequel, Chapter Two, has also faced challenges. Met with negative critical reception, the film currently lacks a theatrical release date and instead premiered at the Venice Film Festival — a sign of uncertainty surrounding its distribution.
Costner, 70, is still pushing forward. He plans to direct and star in the third installment of the four-part saga, with filming already underway and expected to wrap later this year. However, sources say the entire project hinges on finding a major backer — and all eyes are on Netflix.
“Right now, Netflix is the only company with deep enough pockets to completely bail Kevin out,” the insider said. “If Chapter One continues to perform well on the platform, there’s a strong expectation that Netflix will acquire the full rights and give the remaining films a proper runway.”
Ironically, Costner originally envisioned Horizon as a streaming series before pivoting to theatrical films — a shift influenced by the massive success of Yellowstone. Now, he may find himself returning to his original plan, this time out of financial necessity.
“He’s in an eight-figure hole,” the source added. “This could be the only way to finish what he started — and finally get these films in front of a global audience.”
