Kevin Costner’s $100 Million Western Franchise’s Fate Could Be Decided In 20 Days

The fate of Kevin Costner’s Horizon: An American Saga franchise will finally be decided in less than three weeks. The second film in Costner’s budding Western franchise was pulled from its original theatrical release date of August 16, 2024, due to the poor box office performance and mixed critical reception of Horizon – Chapter 1, which was released in theaters back on June 28, 2024. Horizon – Chapter 2 will now make its world premiere out of competition at the upcoming Venice Film Festival.

The recent VOD success of Horizon: An American Saga – Chapter 1 is certainly a promising sign for the Horizon franchise but may not have too much of a lasting effect. Ultimately, if Costner hopes to have any shot of producing and directing Horizon 3 & 4 as he originally had intended, Horizon 2 will have to surpass expectations and mark a significant improvement from Horizon 1. Any sound investor will not be willing to throw money at Horizon’s future installments if Horizon 2 falls short.

Horizon: An American Saga Chapter 2’s Venice Debut Could Save The Franchise

It all comes down to Horizon’s reception at the Venice Film Festival

If Horizon 2 gets rave reviews, it could be one of the key lifelines that could help save the franchise. It would provide a much-needed spark into Costner’s franchise which appeared dead on arrival back in June and could greatly impact when Horizon – Chapter 2 could get its wide theatrical release after its delays. What’s more, the success of Horizon 2 could be the missing link in Costner generating financing for his expected third and fourth installments.

At this point, everything comes down to the reception of Horizon 2 at the Venice Film Festival for Costner. If Horizon 2 turns out to divide critics once again, it may not be enough for the franchise to actually take off the way Costner has intended it to, even with positive audience reviews and Costner’s massive star power. What’s most likely to happen is Costner using his VOD success with Chapter 1 to work out an exclusive streaming deal with Paramount and CBS as they may be the only way he can keep his initial franchise plan intact.

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Horizon 3 & 4 Might Never Happen If Chapter 2’s Venice Premiere Doesn’t Go Well

Horizon 2 will have to be an improvement from Horizon 1

If Horizon 2 fails to make an impression and its world premiere at the Venice Film Festival on September 7, 2024 goes poorly, then Costner can probably chalk the two other movies up as never happening. Costner’s bold production and release strategy largely bet on his first installment being as celebrated and popular as his Yellowstone series, which it ultimately was not. Costner has already spent millions of his own fortune bringing the first two Horizon installments to the big screen but it may soon be an impossibility unless Chapter 2 can quickly turn things around.

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Horizon: An American Saga – Chapter 2

Horizon: An American Saga – Chapter 2 is a western drama film directed by Kevin Costner. Broken into two parts, Horizon explores the periods before and after the American Civil War, with the reconstruction and new era for Western Expansion.

Release Date

August 16, 2024

Studio(s)

New Line Cinema , Territory Pictures

Distributor(s)

Warner Bros. Pictures

Budget

$100 Million

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