Kevin Costner’s Western Franchise Faces Setbacks, Breaking a 44-Year Career Pattern
Kevin Costner’s Horizon: An American Saga Faces Major Setbacks, Threatening a Long-Awaited Franchise
The troubled production and release of Kevin Costner’s Horizon: An American Saga have been disappointing on multiple fronts. What makes this even more unfortunate is that the franchise marked a career first for Costner—his attempt to lead a multi-film Western saga, something he has never done before. Originally envisioned as a sweeping story told across four epic Western movies, Horizon has struggled due to behind-the-scenes conflicts and financial difficulties, leaving its future uncertain.
The lukewarm critical reception and disappointing box office performance of the first installment caused the release of the sequel to be delayed indefinitely. Moreover, funding issues have stalled production on the final two films, placing the entire saga on precarious footing.
Costner has a significant personal financial stake in seeing the franchise through, alongside a deep passion to realize his long-gestating vision. Beyond that, Horizon represented a chance to create a landmark series in his illustrious 44-year career as an actor and director.
Kevin Costner’s First Real Franchise as Lead Actor and Director
Though Costner has been part of major franchises before, such as his role as Jonathan Kent in the DC Extended Universe, he has never helmed a franchise as the lead actor or director. His career has largely centered around stand-alone films, a fact he has commented on in past interviews.
In a 2014 interview with SlashFilm, Costner explained his cautious approach to franchises:
“I think the second one depends on the first one… If it’s not working, why would any of us want to do it?”
This philosophy partly explains why Horizon was such a departure for him — it was his first attempt at a multi-film franchise with himself as the lead.
Why Horizon Struggled Critically and Commercially
At the heart of Horizon’s difficulties was the decision to release it theatrically rather than as a TV series or streaming event. Critics generally praised the film’s ambitious scope but criticized its execution. The first chapter felt like a sprawling setup, introducing numerous characters and plotlines without delivering a satisfying standalone story.
With a runtime exceeding three hours filled mostly with exposition and limited action, many audiences found it hard to engage. The film failed to recoup its budget, and negative word of mouth further hindered its theatrical performance. Consequently, the release of Chapter 2 was postponed indefinitely to give the first film time to build a following.
Interestingly, when Horizon: An American Saga – Chapter 1 hit Netflix six months later, it became a streaming success, attracting many viewers worldwide. Although this renewed interest boosted the franchise’s visibility, it remains unclear if it’s enough to revive enthusiasm for the sequels.
What’s Next for the Horizon Franchise?
As of mid-2024, the future of Horizon remains uncertain. Chapter 2 has been completed, but no official release date has been announced. According to actor Glynn Turman, who spoke with Screen Rant, filming on Chapter 3 had begun, but progress is unclear due to funding challenges.
Given the underwhelming performance of the first film, securing the necessary resources to complete the saga’s remaining installments is a daunting prospect. Even if Chapter 2 sees a theatrical release, it’s unlikely to fully reverse the franchise’s struggles.
Compounding these difficulties, Costner faced a lawsuit from a stunt performer over an unscripted sexual assault scene during filming, casting further doubt on the franchise’s viability.
With so many obstacles, it seems unlikely that Horizon: An American Saga will move beyond the second chapter, ending what was meant to be a defining moment in Kevin Costner’s career.
