“Kevin Costner’s Horizon Struggles: A Director’s Sharp Critique on Actor’s Need for Control”

The last few years have been tough for Kevin Costner. Following months of controversy surrounding his exit from Yellowstone, an official studio statement clashed with his reputation, turning much of the fanbase against him. His attempts to address the situation faltered, particularly his initial silence, which many interpreted as a sign of guilt. Although Costner has moved on from the Taylor Sheridan series, the controversy has shadowed him, culminating in his passion project Horizon: An American Saga, which has been in the works for 40 years, falling short of audience expectations. What began as a 7-minute standing ovation at Cannes quickly turned into a sharp critique as Horizon struggled at the box office.

A Tumultuous Relationship Leads to Disappointment

For Hollywood’s A-listers, a few flops are hardly uncommon—even for stars like Clint Eastwood and Tom Cruise. In the 80s and 90s, Kevin Costner was one of the biggest names in the industry, capable of drawing crowds worldwide. This star power led to the rapid development of Waterworld, a project he expressed interest in. Initially championed by Peter Rader, who was inspired by Blade Runner, the film saw Costner replace Rader’s vision with that of Kevin Reynolds, a director who had collaborated with him on four previous projects, including Robin Hood: Prince of Thieves. However, behind-the-scenes tensions, rooted in their earlier work, began to unravel their partnership.

Echoes of the Past in Present Failures

Waterworld was already the most expensive film ever made at the time, plagued by unpredictable weather, seasickness, and other challenges. Ultimately, it was Costner’s behavior that pushed Reynolds to leave the project just three months before completion. This incident mirrored past conflicts; during Robin Hood, Costner and the producers took over editing, even locking out the original editor, Peter Boyle. Their version was met with disapproval from Reynolds, who felt his vision had been compromised.

The drama continued on the set of Waterworld, leading to a significant fallout between Costner and Reynolds. Reynolds famously remarked, “Kevin should only star in movies he directs. Then he can work with his favorite actor and director.” Costner took on the roles of director and editor, a move that now reflects poorly on his efforts with Horizon: An American Saga. The film, fraught with challenges yet lacking the same production perils, suffered from poor marketing and Costner’s difficulty in balancing his vision with the needs of the broader project.

It’s no surprise that Horizon now holds a meager 49% rating on Rotten Tomatoes. With a budget of $100 million, the film has already been pulled from many theaters, grossing only $31 million worldwide [via The Numbers].