Kevin Costner’s ‘Horizon: An American Saga Chapter 2’ Pulled From August Release
Share the Force:
Phil Roberts 
Costner’s Territory Pictures and New Line Cinema have postponed the release of Horizon: An American Saga Chapter 2 to give audiences more time to appreciate the first movie before the sequel.
The second installment of Kevin Costner’s ambitious film series “Horizon: An American Saga” has been removed from its scheduled August release window after the first chapter did not perform well at the box office. The $100 million passion project managed to haul in a disappointing $11 million domestically in its opening weekend. Making matters worse, the film didn’t resonate with overseas viewers either. The result is a bitterly disappointing return for the most significant financial gamble of Costner’s career.
Costner took a significant risk with the Horizon series, investing $38 million of his funds into Chapter 1 and securing the remaining financing with the assistance of two undisclosed investors. Costner plans to split the tale into four juggernaut chapters chronicling the great migration West during the Civil War era. In April, Warner Bros. signed on as a distributor and announced the unprecedented plan to release the first two films less than two months apart. The studios have not signed on to release the remaining two Chapters as of press time. However, with Costner planning to resume filming next month, the timing of Chapter 1’s failure could not have come at a worse time.
REVIEWS
Despite its bold and ambitious nature, the film has garnered a mixed response from critics. Kevin Costner’s traditional approach to moviemaking may not resonate with all viewers, turning some of them away. The film unfolds as a magnificent slow burn. However, with today’s audience still grappling with the aftermath of the pandemic and hesitant to spend long periods in theaters, it faced challenges in finding its audience.
In my four-star review, I said: “Spanning a lengthy 181 minutes, the film meticulously lays the foundation for a compelling narrative. While some viewers might find the runtime challenging, the payoff is a well-crafted, engaging story that gradually unveils its intricacies with finesse. Like all epics, there are a few bumps in the trail; not all films are perfect. Nevertheless, Kevin Costner has delivered a rich, classic Western movie that exceeds expectations. While this film may not resonate with younger audiences seeking non-stop action and extravagant spectacles, it is a tribute to traditional storytelling that will captivate cinema enthusiasts who appreciate the art of moviemaking. Sadly, Costner’s creative choices may limit its box office success, which is a genuine shame, but if it finds its audience, I see no reason for the film not to become a success.”
It appears that my worries about the film were well-founded. Despite Territory Pictures and New Line Cinema’s continued commitment to releasing the movie in theaters, Chapter 1’s underwhelming performance has undoubtedly raised doubts about the prospects of the remaining sequels—Warner Bros’ agreement to distribute the remaining two films hinged on their financial success and viability. The lackluster box office results are certainly cause for concern.
CHAPTER 2
The studios explained the decision as per The Hollywood Reporter (THR).
“Territory Pictures and New Line Cinema have decided not to release Horizon: Chapter 2 on August 16 in order to give audiences a greater opportunity to discover the first installment of Horizon over the coming weeks, including on PVOD and Max. We thank our exhibition partners for their continued support as moviegoers across the U.S. discover the film in its theatrical run,” a New Line spokesperson said.
Added Territory Pictures in a separate statement, “The audience response to Horizon, and enthusiasm for seeing our story continue in Horizon 2, has been incredibly gratifying. Kevin made this film for people who love movies and who wanted to go on a journey. The support that we have received from film fans, and the theater owners, as they experience the first chapter of this saga only serves to reinforce our belief in them and the films that we have made, and we thank them for coming on board for the ride. We welcome the opportunity for that window to be expanded as we know it will only serve to enhance the experience of seeing Horizon 2.”
PVOD
Horizon: An American Saga Chapter 1 will now be fast-tracked for release on PVOD within a few days. This move is intended to make the movie more accessible to viewers at home. The move will target casual viewers and fans of the show Yellowstone in hopes of boosting its popularity. Additionally, the film will land on Max in the States shortly.
Currently, there is no information regarding the return of Horizon: Chapter 2 to the theatrical calendar. However, we will update the website with the latest news as soon as it is released.
Were you one of the viewers who eagerly visited the cinema for Horizon Chapter 1? Let us know in the comments below!
Meet Phil Roberts! He’s the dedicated owner, daily content manager, and editor-in-chief of The Future of the Force. Phil is a budding novelist who turned his passion toward writing about the franchises he loves back in 2016. He’s a huge fan of all things Star Wars, Batman, DC, Marvel, Star Trek, Indiana Jones, Ghostbusters, King Kong, and the Ray Harryhausen movies. Phil is a BFI-accredited journalist and a distinguished member of the Film Critics Association UK.
If he’s not catching a movie at the cinema, you can bet he’s streaming something just as awesome!
