“Kevin Costner’s ‘Horizon: Chapter 2’ to Debut at Venice Film Festival Following Theatrical Release Delay”
Kevin Costner’s second installment of his epic saga, Horizon: An American Saga – Chapter 2, will make its debut at the 2024 Venice Film Festival in September. This announcement comes just three weeks after it was revealed that the film would be pulled from its planned theatrical release.
In a statement to The Hollywood Reporter, Costner expressed his gratitude to Venice Film Festival director Alberto Barbera, saying, “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.”
Following the underwhelming performance of Horizon: Chapter 1 in theaters, Kevin Costner’s production company, Territory Pictures, and distributor New Line Cinema decided to postpone the release of Chapter 2. Originally scheduled for August 16, the release of the second chapter was delayed to allow more time for audiences to experience Chapter 1, which opened in theaters on June 28.
Horizon: Chapter 1 had a strong debut at the Cannes Film Festival in May, where it received a seven-minute standing ovation. However, it earned only $11 million in its opening weekend, with mixed reviews from critics.
To finance the ambitious project, which stars Sienna Miller and Sam Worthington alongside Costner, the actor mortgaged his beachfront home near Santa Barbara, Calif., investing $38 million. The cost of the four planned films is significantly higher, with Chapter 1 alone having a reported budget of $100 million, not including publicity and marketing.
Despite the financial risks, Costner remains optimistic about the saga. He previously shared with Yahoo Entertainment, “Clearly things are at risk… But I don’t want to lose track of what moves me and what I want to do in my life.” He emphasized that success for him is measured not just by box office numbers but by the impact the films have on audiences.
For those who had already purchased tickets for Chapter 2, movie theaters will be issuing refunds, as the film will not be released on August 16 as initially planned.
Although the theatrical release has been postponed, Costner and his film partners still plan to release Chapter 2 in theaters at an undetermined future date. In the meantime, audiences can catch Chapter 1 in theaters, on premium video on demand, and on streaming service Max.
A New Line Cinema spokesperson commented, “The support we’ve received from film fans and theater owners reinforces our belief in the films we’ve made. We thank them for their support and look forward to expanding the release window for Chapter 2, enhancing the overall experience.”
Updated: July 31, 11:36 a.m. ET. This story has been updated with news of the Venice Film Festival premiere for Horizon: An American Saga – Chapter 2.
