Kevin Costner Responds to Horizon 2 Theatrical Release Cancellation: ‘It Didn’t Achieve Overwhelming Success’
Kevin Costner has shared his thoughts on the canceled theatrical release plans for the second installment of his Western epic, Horizon: An American Saga.
The first Horizon film debuted on June 28 but faced a disappointing response from audiences, grossing just $36 million worldwide against its $100 million budget. Costner disclosed that he personally invested around $38 million to fund the production.
Costner acknowledged the film’s lukewarm reception, stating, “[Part one] didn’t have overwhelming success.” However, he noted that many of his films have gained appreciation over time.
The decision to release Chapter Two six weeks after Chapter One was initially made by the studio, but the studio later decided to postpone it. New Line Cinema announced in July that Chapter Two’s release would be delayed from August 16 to give audiences more time to discover the first installment.
Despite the changes, Costner expressed optimism at the Venice Film Festival on September 7. He had initially planned to showcase the sequel at the festival if the films were released five to six months apart. “When it was six weeks, I wasn’t going to get to come here… But what happened is a miracle in life… My plan was always to bring it to Venice, and suddenly it has happened,” Costner said.
Regarding the future of the saga, Costner explained that creating sequels presents greater challenges. “If there’s anything that you expect from part two, you realize that two gets harder than one. It’s hard to go west. Three is the same thing. It gets harder. But I will tell you this, Chapter 3 is devastating. It’s devastating because you begin to know all these people and life keeps coming at them, and you will see that.”
Costner, who is determined to move forward with Chapter 3, expressed his commitment to the project: “I have to hurry and not let the rock fall back downhill. I’ve gotta go put my hands on it again and start to push it up. It’s a rope that I cannot let go of.” He then became emotional, adding, “I don’t know how I’m gonna make 3 right now, but I’m gonna make it.”
Costner had previously indicated that Chapter 2 might be released before the year’s end. The Horizon series, which he directs, co-writes, and stars in, is a four-part Western drama set over 15 years during the American Civil War. It also features Sienna Miller, Jamie Campbell Bower, Ella Hunt, and Sam Worthington.
In a two-star review of the first film, Geoffrey McNab of The Independent described it as “the movie equivalent of a three-hour ride around a western theme park,” suggesting that while fans of Westerns might enjoy it, the film requires considerable patience.
