“Kevin Costner Responds to Horizon Chapter 2 Cancellation After Chapter 1’s Box Office Struggles”
With the franchise’s future uncertain, Kevin Costner addresses the cancellation of “Horizon: An American Saga — Chapter 2.” The first installment of his ambitious four-part Western saga, released in June 2024, struggled at the box office, earning only $36.1 million against its $50 million budget and receiving mixed reviews from critics. Originally scheduled for an August release, Chapter 2 was pulled from Warner Bros.’ release schedule but was still shown at the Venice International Film Festival.
During a press conference at the festival, Costner spoke about the sequel’s cancellation and the franchise’s future (as reported by Variety). Reflecting on the decision, Costner suggested that Warner Bros.’ move was likely a reaction to the first film’s underperformance:
“It didn’t have overwhelming success. I’ve had a lot of movies that have had similar fates but stood the test of time.”
Despite the setback, Costner saw some positives in the situation. He noted that the cancellation allowed him to present the sequel at Venice—a venue he wouldn’t have had access to if the film had already been released. He also mentioned that this development inadvertently aligned with his original release strategy:
“For me, it fell back into my plan. I always intended for the movies to come out five to six months apart, which would allow me to attend Venice. The festival wouldn’t have shown the film if it was already out.”
What This Means for the Future of the Franchise
The decision to cancel the sequel’s wide release was both surprising and understandable given the performance of Chapter 1. Costner’s comments suggest that the studio, rather than himself, made the final call on the release strategy. This is noteworthy considering Costner’s personal investment of $38 million into the first two chapters, which together cost around $100 million. Despite this significant investment, the studio is responsible for marketing and distribution, and therefore needs to ensure that the films are financially viable.
The fact that Chapter 1 performed well on VOD might have given Warner Bros. some confidence in the sequel, but the studio appears to be weighing their options carefully before deciding on a new release plan for “Horizon: An American Saga — Chapter 2.”
