Kevin Costner explains why he made the Horizon: An American Saga despite years of struggles pitching the film. Costner’s directorial work is displayed again this summer through the release of a duology of Western films, Horizon: An American Saga – Chapter 1 and Horizon: An American Saga – Chapter 2. Both films have already been completed and will be released in close proximity, with the first Horizon film arriving on June 28 and the second installment coming on August 16. The story covers the expansion of the American West and the battles over land that ensue.
Speaking with Empire Magazine, Costner reveals why Horizon ended up being more than one film despite years of pushback from studios. After the interviewer noted that the “American Saga” part of the film title seemed just about as important as the title “Horizon,” Costner replied that “well, there’s four of them. That’s why it’s a saga.” The actor-director went on to list all the times he attempted, but failed, to pitch even one Horizon film to studios. Because “nobody wanted the movie,” Costner instead decided to “write four more” rather than give up the project. Check out the full quote from Costner below:
Well, there’s four of them. That’s why it’s a saga.
And there’s actually a fifth one if you want to think back to 1988, because that script was good enough to make, and I never made it. I tried in 2003, I tried in 2009, and no-one would make it. I didn’t fall out of love with it. So basically what I did was, I did the unthinkable. Since nobody wanted the movie, I just thought I’d write four more, which probably means I should be in therapy. Really, I ought to just put a bullet in my head.
Will the Horizon Saga Be Successful?
The Movies Are Going Up Against Some Big Franchise Titles
Costner’s quote emphasizes just how much of a passion project the Horizon: An American Saga movies have been for him. This is a film series over 30 years in the making, whose release arrives decades after he conceived of the film. Not only did Costner push for the back-to-back release of Horizon: An American Saga chapters 1 and 2, but he has also started filming chapter 3.
With this confident approach begs the question if the Horizon: An American Saga films can make back their money and be successful. One factor that can contribute to their success is that the Western genre is back on the rise, most notably evidenced by the success of Yellowstone, a project in which Costner also starred. While this genre re-emergence has mostly been seen through television, Costner and the American Western may have piqued the interest of enough new fans for the films to be successful.
Where Horizon: A American Saga may struggle is in competing against more conventionally accessible blockbusters. The first chapter releases on the same day as the anticipated horror prequel A Quiet Place: Day One, and only a few days before Despicable Me 4. The second film has to fend off Alien: Romulus in order to succeed. As these summer releases fast approach, it will be fascinating to see whether Costner’s passion project can pay off and pull through to box office success.
