“Kevin Costner Surrounded by Fans and Shares Heartfelt Hug with Susan Sarandon as ‘Horizon 2’ Receives 3-Minute Standing Ovation in Venice”
Kevin Costner’s latest installment in his Western franchise, “Horizon: An American Saga,” received a rousing three-minute standing ovation at the Venice Film Festival on Saturday. Following the enthusiastic reception, Costner was swarmed by fans eager for selfies and videos, prompting an escort by security to ensure his safety.
The festival’s smaller Sala Giardino hosted the premiere of “Horizon 2,” a stark contrast to the usual Sala Grande, which was occupied by the evening’s awards ceremony. This follows the seven-minute ovation that greeted “Chapter One” at Cannes in May. Before leaving, Costner shared a heartfelt moment with Susan Sarandon, his co-star from “Bull Durham,” who kissed him on the cheek and offered her congratulations. The two had previously reconnected earlier in the week at the Better World Fund’s event at the Cipriani Hotel, with Costner expressing his joy at their reunion on Instagram.
“Horizon 2” was added to the Venice lineup at the last minute, announced on July 31 for an out-of-competition screening. The U.S. release of “Chapter 2” was recently canceled, following a disappointing $11 million debut of the first installment against a $100 million budget. Costner addressed the film’s removed theatrical release at a press conference, attributing it to the underwhelming box office performance of the first film but remained optimistic about the saga’s future.
Costner confirmed his commitment to completing the saga, noting that both “Chapter Three” and “Chapter Four” are written, with “Chapter Three” described as “devastating.” Despite challenges, he expressed determination to continue the series.
In addition to directing and starring, Costner returns with a cast including Sienna Miller, Sam Worthington, Jena Malone, and Danny Huston. The sequel continues the saga’s exploration of the Civil War era’s impact on the American West. Costner, who also co-wrote the script with Jon Baird and produced through Territory Pictures, remains dedicated to the epic vision of his franchise.
