Kevin Costner Bets Big on his Ambitious Western Vision for Horizon: An American Saga and its Sequels

Horizon: An American Saga

traces its roots to Costner's concept over three decades ago, evolving into a saga that explores the trials and triumphs of characters before and after the Civil War, unfolding against the backdrop of the American West's settlement. The first two installments (both financed in part by Costner himself) are poised for a summer release.

The three-minute trailer for Horizon introduces viewers to the ensemble cast, led by Costner's character Hayes Ellison, set against the stunning landscapes of scenic Utah. The film explores the impact of the misguided and destructive mentality of Manifest Destiny on the lives of its characters, though we somehow doubt the interpretation will be a critical one.

Said characters are played by Sienna Miller, Sam Worthington, Jena Malone, Abbey Lee, Michael Rooker, Danny Huston, Luke Wilson, Isabelle Fuhrman, Jeff Fahey, Will Patton, Tantanka Means, Owen Crow Shoe, Ella Hunt, and Jamie Campbell Bower rounding out the cast.

The Horizon: An American Saga trailer teases the film's plot, showcasing the challenges faced by the characters, including a harrowing scene where Sienna Miller's family comes under attack. The characters grapple with the ideology of the 19th Century concepts of "Manifest Destiny", the American Exceptionalism, and the Old West Expansion.

Related to this, the trailer hints at the inclusion of Native American populations and a potential romantic subplot between Costner's Ellison and Lee's character. Whichever way the film tackles these themes will certainly stir controversy among some groups, if not all, considering how politically charged the subject matter is.

Costner's personal financial backing of the project underscores the difficulty in securing traditional funding for theatrical feature films in the Western genre. The genre's commercial viability has become uncertain in the past couple of decades, and with each entry in the planned Horizon series boasting a budget exceeding $100 million, the financial stakes are substantial.

On that note, the fate of the planned third and fourth installments hinges on the box office performance of the initial two movies. Recent reports suggest Costner is struggling to secure funding for the final two chapters, emphasizing the industry's skepticism toward Westerns.

The unprecedented decision to release the first two films in theaters only weeks apart adds an additional layer of uncertainty. If the initial installment underperforms, Warner Bros. could face a dilemma with the sequel.

Kevin Costner is no stranger to pushing for personal projects with astronomical budgets. Waterworld, Wyatt Earp, and The Postman are infamous examples of Costner's big budgeted passion projects that underperformed at the box office. With Westerns far from being the genre of box office bonanzas as they once were, Horizon: An American Saga is shaping up to be a huge gamble.

Set against the four years of the Civil War, the narrative unfolds through the lens of families, friends, and foes, offering audiences an emotional journey across a nation at war with itself. Costner's role extends beyond acting, with him directing from a script co-written with Jon Baird, marking his fourth directorial effort after notable films such as Open Range, The Postman, and the Oscar-winning Dances With Wolves.

Will Kevin Costner's cinematic vision for the four-part Horizon Western epic find success, or will it reinforce the perception that the Western genre has long since rode toward the sunset? The first installment in the planned movie series arrives in theaters on June 28, 2024.