Kevin Costner Isn’t Giving Up On Horizon 2

The adjusted schedule for the second chapter in the Kevin Costner Horizon series helps space out the four-part film anthology’s theatrical releases. They initially were planned to run in quick succession, but the SAG-AFTRA actors and writers strike last summer delayed production of chapters three and four. Waiting for the Venice Film Festival to premiere the second chapter will maximize publicity while spacing out its theatrical releases.

Now, moviegoers won’t have to rush through the first two editions and wait several months or more for the final two chapters to air. A long layoff between chapters two and three might cause audiences to lose interest and suppress ticket sales. Lagging ticket sales would be very bad for the film anthology.

The first chapter of the Kevin Costner-produced Horizon: An American Saga received reasonably good critical and audience reviews. Unfortunately, generally positive reviews did not translate into box office success. The first chapter of the R-rated Western did very poorly at the box office, with a global take of $33.97 million against a $100 million production budget – plus marketing and distribution.

The film anthology examines the efforts to settle areas west of the Mississippi River during the Civil War. That was an especially trying time for settlers who no longer had the protection of federal troops who were busy fighting the Confederacy during the nation’s bloodiest war to date. They mostly were on their own when it came to protecting against hostile natives who weren’t happy with the encroachment on lands they considered to be theirs.

The settlers also generally lacked protection against thieves and robbers who often resorted to murder and other heinous crimes to get what they wanted. It truly was the “Wild West,” and settlers had to be especially tough and ready to defend themselves and their newly claimed property without assistance from federal troops or cavalry. The Kevin Costner-produced and directed Horizon anthology gives audiences a very close look at that time in four chapters running about three hours each.

The first chapter debuted at the Cannes Film Festival in May and was greeted with warm applause upon its conclusion. Kevin Costner and Horizon received a standing ovation that endured for seven minutes. Many U.S. audiences likewise enjoyed the first chapter of the film series, and the second chapter was to debut sooner during the summer months when more moviegoers are at home.

Kevin Costner co-wrote Horizon: An American Saga with the intent of spreading out the film’s appearances to take advantage of traditional summer and holiday viewing seasons. The 2023 writers and actors strike upended those plans, which were complicated by the poor box office receipts during chapter one’s short theatrical run. A successful debut for chapter two might be the remedy for the box office blues and help get more people to buy tickets and watch it during its eventual theatrical run.