Horizon: An American Saga

Kevin Costner began developing the script for the film series in 1988, which he based on his personal belief that its viewers should be inspired by the true history of America in the Old West.{{cite web|url=https://www.cinemablend.com/news/live/warner-bros-2024-cinemacon-panel-live-blog|work=Cinemablend|title=Warner Bros. 2024 CinemaCon Panel Live Blog|author=O'Connell, Sean|date=April 9, 2024|access-date=April 13, 2024}} Over the years, Costner continued to develop the script from originally co-starring two lead actors to featuring a complete ensemble cast.{{cite web|url=https://www.gq.com/story/kevin-costner-gq-cover-story|work=GQ|title=Inside Kevin Costner's $38 Million Horizon Gamble|author=Baron, Zach|date=May 20, 2024|access-date=May 20, 2024}} Costner explained that by further expanding the script into a series of four individual films, he wanted to accurately depict a 12-year history of the United States, including the impact of the American Civil War, and drawing an audience into the movie-going experience. Costner explained that the plot depicts the experiences of Native Americans, when immigrant settlers moved into their territory with a justification that they had paid European salesmen for the land.{{cite web|url=https://www.morgancountycitizen.com/news/frontpage/q-a-with-kevin-costner-on-his-new-mega-western-horizon/article_015cfef7-6615-5e21-a4dd-1759ddb02654.html|work=Morgan County Citizen|title=Q&A with Kevin Costner on His New Mega Western, 'Horizon'|author=Gillooly, Jon|date=June 7, 2024|access-date=June 12, 2024}}

In 2003, Costner negotiated production with The Walt Disney Company. During pre-production, however, he discovered that the studio lacked his required production budget, so he abandoned the Disney brand. In 2014, he expanded the series into a trilogy.{{cite web|url=https://collider.com/kevin-costner-horizon-an-american-saga-deleted-scene/|work=Collider|title=Kevin Costner Discusses 'Horizon,' the Only Deleted Scene, and When It All Ends [Exclusive]|author=Weintraub, Steven & Tamera Jones|date=May 21, 2024|access-date=June 12, 2024}} Development continued over the years, until Costner collaborated with Jon Baird on the script in 2012 where it developed into four separate films; the contents and story of which would intentionally be darker than his previous westerns. Lacking major production studio initial involvement, Costner invested $38 million of his own money into the budget with additional funding supplied by two unnamed investors, and became determined to begin production as quickly as possible. In May 2024, Costner confirmed that the Horizon film series will be at least four installments, while explaining that the production and release schedule of the first two films was in part due to his personal desire to see the script realized in his lifetime.{{cite web|url=https://deadline.com/2024/05/kevin-costner-horizon-an-american-saga-yellowstone-controversy-1235907679/|work=Deadline|title=Kevin Costner Reveals The Epic Journey Of His Cannes Western 'Horizon' And Has His Say On 'Yellowstone' Rancor|author=Fleming, Mike Jr.|date=May 13, 2024|access-date=May 18, 2024}} He wanted to ensure that his son Hayes could play the character he had written for him, before outgrowing the part. Later, Costner detailed the various events in his life which had delayed the realization of the films, including the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on cinema, the death of his parents in 2021, scheduling conflicts including a contract dispute with Paramount Pictures and Taylor Sheridan on the final season of Yellowstone, a divorce with Christine Baumgartner, and the writers'/actors' strikes of 2023. He was determined to "work...to get this thing finished".

Contrary to some reports, Costner rejected the idea that the development of the film series directly influenced his departure from the Yellowstone television series. He explained that the final season had been restructured multiple times and was subjected to various production delays, which conflicted with the production schedule on the prioritized film series. Citing an example with the lack of completed scripts for a last season which would be split into two separate parts, Costner stated that he is open to completing additional photography to finish his role in the series. However, the filmmaker stated that when rewrites for the show were ongoing, he allowed Sheridan to read the script for the Horizon films with hopes that it could inspire, while previously offering to provide assistance in writing his character out of Yellowstone in a climactic death scene. He reportedly offered to give some time off from his films production schedule to do so, but these options have never materialized.

When addressing the various festival debuts of each installment (Cannes Film Festival for Chapter 1, and Venice Film Festival for Chapter 2), Costner expressed interest in returning to Cannes for Chapter 3. He later explained plans for additional monetary gains through licensing the series every several years through streaming and home video, regardless of their box office performance. Working with Warner Bros., plans are for each chapter to be released four to six months after the previous installment. The filmmaker later stated that he developed the series of films, with the quality of classic westerns in mind,{{cite web|url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=22z3SS_6Eck|work=Atlanta News First|title=Kevin Costner Talks Horizon: An American Saga|author=Sattaro, Becky|date=June 7, 2024|access-date=June 12, 2024}}{{cite web|url=https://www.fox5atlanta.com/video/1465127|work=Fox 5 Atlanta|title=Kevin Costner on the story behind 'Horizon'|author=Lawson, Sharon|date=June 3, 2024|access-date=June 12, 2024}} and though he has considered developing additional sequels set during contemporary times, Costner determined that the series will end with Chapter 4; expressing hopes that families will go to theaters together to view each installment upon their release.

{{main|Horizon: An American Saga – Chapter 1}}

In January 2022, it was announced that Kevin Costner would direct his fourth feature film, from a script he co-wrote with Jon Baird. Costner is producer, with principal photography scheduled in August 2022 in Utah. This is a joint-venture production between Territory Pictures, Warner Bros. Pictures, and New Line Cinema,{{cite web|url=https://deadline.com/2022/01/kevin-costner-horizon-western-movie-direct-star-august-29-start-date-1234921230/|work=Deadline|title=Kevin Costner Sets Late Summer Start For His Passion Film 'Horizon,' Epic Period Western|author=Fleming, Mike Jr.|date=January 28, 2022|access-date=June 22, 2022}} and Warner Bros. is distributor.{{cite web|url=https://deadline.com/2022/04/kevin-costner-horizon-warner-bros-new-line-yellowstone-1235004901/|work=Deadline|title=Warner Bros & New Line Partner On Kevin Costner's Epic Period Western Film 'Horizon'|author=Fleming, Mike Jr.|date= April 18, 2022|access-date=June 22, 2022}} In June 2022, he stated that filming in the state has long been his goal, with scouting in the state already having taken place.{{cite web|url=https://www.deseret.com/utah/2022/6/9/23161829/kevin-costner-horizon-yellowstones-taylor-sheridan-coming-utah-film-incentives-cox-clive-owen|work=Deseret News|title=Kevin Costner, Taylor Sheridan of 'Yellowstone' coming to Utah to make new movies|author=Dunphey, Kyle|date=June 9, 2022|access-date=June 21, 2022}} Later that month, Costner revealed that his project had evolved into four "different films that all connect, so you're watching a saga of [...] storylines". Production was in the casting phase of pre-production, with photography scheduled to start later that year. Each film is intended to be 2 hours and 45 minutes in length, and Costner stated that once all the films are released, they will be compiled and re-released as a miniseries on television.{{cite web|url=https://variety.com/2022/film/news/kevin-costner-horizon-directing-four-movies-1235299756/|work=Variety|title=Kevin Costner Wants to Split His Western Epic 'Horizon' Into Four Movies (EXCLUSIVE)|author=Ravindran, Manori|date=June 21, 2022|access-date=June 22, 2022}}{{cite web|url=https://www.slashfilm.com/902689/kevin-costners-new-movie-horizon-is-being-split-into-four-2-hour-and-45-minute-movies/|work=Slash Film|title=Kevin Costner's New Movie, Horizon, Is Being Split Into Four 2 Hour And 45 Minute Movies|author=Busch, Jenna|date=June 21, 2022|access-date=June 22, 2022}}

Sienna Miller, Sam Worthington, Jamie Campbell Bower, Luke Wilson, Thomas Haden Church, Jena Malone, Alejandro Edda, Tatanka Means, and Michael Rooker have been cast in various roles in the film series. In September 2022, Isabelle Fuhrman was cast in an undisclosed role.{{cite web|url=https://deadline.com/2022/09/kevin-costner-horizon-isabelle-fuhrman-1235103446/|work=Deadline|title=Isabelle Fuhrman Joins Kevin Costner's Western Epic 'Horizon'|author=D'Alessandro, Anthony|date=September 6, 2022|access-date=September 14, 2022}} By November of that year, principal photography had wrapped.{{cite web|url=https://people.com/movies/kevin-costner-son-hayes-appears-in-his-western-movie-horizon-exclusive/|work=People|title=Kevin Costner Reveals 13-Year-Old Son Hayes Will Appear in His Epic Western 'Horizon' : 'He's Really Good'|author=Strohm, Emily|date=November 23, 2022|access-date=February 6, 2023}} In May 2024, it was revealed that the Writers Guild of America had awarded credits for the first two films to Costner and Jon Baird as screenwriters from an original story co-written by Costner, Baird, and Mark Kasdan.{{cite web|url=https://comicbook.com/movies/news/kevin-costners-horizon-an-american-saga-gets-new-poster-from-warner-bros/|work=ComicBook.com|title=Kevin Costner's Horizon: An American Saga Gets New Poster From Warner Bros.|author=Burlingame, Russ|date=May 16, 2024|access-date=May 20, 2024}}

In October 2023, the official title was announced as Horizon: An American Saga – Chapter 1. The first trailer debuted, revealing a June 28, 2024 release date.{{cite web|url=https://screenrant.com/horizon-movie-trailer-kevin-costner/|work=Screen Rant|title=Horizon: An American Saga Trailer - Kevin Costner's Epic Western Movie Two-Parter Releases 2024|author=Northrup, Ryan|date=October 5, 2023|access-date=October 9, 2023}}{{cite web|url=https://collider.com/kevin-costner-horizon-movie-trailer/|work=Collider|title=Kevin Costner Saddles Up in First 'Horizon' Trailer|author=King, Aiden|date=October 5, 2023|access-date=October 9, 2023}}{{cite web|url=https://www.joblo.com/horizon-an-american-saga-teaser-trailer/|work=JoBlo|title=Horizon: An American Saga teaser trailer and release dates announced for Kevin Costner-directed epic|author=Seigh, Steve|date=October 5, 2023|access-date=October 9, 2023}}

{{main|Horizon: An American Saga – Chapter 2}}

Filming began in April 2023, with Glynn Turman, Kathleen Quinlan, and Giovanni Ribisi joining the cast. Costner, Miller, Worthington, Ella Hunt, Will Patton, Wilson, Fuhrman, and Church reprised their roles from the previous film. The director-of-photography and editor returned from the previous film.{{cite web|url=https://deadline.com/2023/04/horizon-movie-adds-glynn-turman-giovanni-ribisi-more-to-second-installment-1235340101/|work=Deadline|title='Horizon: An American Saga': Glynn Turman, Kathleen Quinlan & Giovanni Ribisi Join Second Installment Of Kevin Costner's Western Epic|author=Grobar, Matt|date=April 28, 2023|access-date=April 29, 2023}} Production on the second film commenced concurrently with the third, in Utah by May 2023.{{cite web|url=https://ksltv.com/546576/filming-begins-in-st-george-for-kevin-costners-horizon-an-american-saga/|work=KSL TV|title=Filming begins in St. George for Kevin Costner's 'Horizon, an American Saga'|author=Egan, Ladd & Madison Swenson|date=May 2, 2023|access-date=June 26, 2023}}

In June 2023, Fuhrman confirmed that series production would be conducted back-to-back.{{cite web|url=https://movieweb.com/isabelle-fuhrman-comments-kevin-costner/|work=MovieWeb|title=Exclusive: Isabelle Fuhrman Talks Working with 'Class Act' Kevin Costner on Horizon: An American Saga|author=Dick, Jeremy|date=June 21, 2023|access-date=August 11, 2023}} One month following the completing of principal photography, Costner began filming the montage sequence that will feature at the end of the film to provide insight into the events of Chapter 3. In October 2023, the first trailer debuted with the film's official title reveal. Horizon: An American Saga – Chapter 2, which was originally set to be scheduled for an August 16, 2024 release. However, due to the box-office disappointment of Chapter 1, it was announced that the release date of this film had been indefinitely delayed until further notice.{{Cite web |date=2024-07-11 |title=Kevin Costner's Horizon sequel pulled from cinemas after first movie bombs |url=https://www.independent.co.uk/arts-entertainment/films/news/kevin-costner-horizon-2-release-net-worth-b2577855.html |access-date=2024-07-13 |website=The Independent |language=en}} Chapter 2 had its world premiere at the 81st Venice International Film Festival on September 7, 2024.{{Cite web |date=July 31, 2024 |title=Biennale Cinema 2024 {{!}} Horizon: An American Saga – Chapter Two directed by and starring Kevin Costner |url=https://www.labiennale.org/en/news/horizon-american-saga-%E2%80%93-chapter-two-directed-and-starring-kevin-costner |access-date=July 31, 2024 |website=La Biennale di Venezia |language=en}}{{Cite web |last=Goodfellow |first=Melanie |date=July 31, 2024 |title='Horizon: An American Saga-Chapter Two' To Premiere In Venice |url=https://deadline.com/2024/07/horizon-an-american-saga-chapter-two-heads-venice-1236027461/ |access-date=July 31, 2024 |website=Deadline |language=en-US}}{{cite web|url=https://deadline.com/2024/09/kevin-costner-horizon-an-american-saga-chapter-2-venice-film-festival-1236080896/|title=Kevin Costner Says 'Horizon Chapter 2' Release Delay Resulted In "A Miracle", Grows Emotional Talking About 'Chapter 3' – Venice Film Festival|website=Deadline|last=Tartaglione|first=Nancy|date=September 7, 2024|access-date=September 7, 2024|language=en}} The film premiered in the U.S. at the Santa Barbara International Film Festival on February 7, 2025.{{cite news|last=Feinberg|first=Scott|title=Santa Barbara Film Fest to Host U.S. Premiere of Kevin Costner's 'Horizon: An American Saga — Chapter 2' (Exclusive)|url=https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/movies/movie-news/santa-barbara-film-fest-us-premiere-kevin-costner-horizon-an-american-saga-chapter-2-1236114380/|work=Hollywood Reporter|date=22 January 2025|access-date=24 January 2025}}

{{main|Horizon: An American Saga – Chapter 3}}

Production on the third film commenced concurrently with the second, in Utah by May 2023. Production of the third film was paused due to the writers' and the actors' strike.{{Cite web|last=Couch|first=Aaron|date=October 5, 2023|title=Kevin Costner's Two-Part 'Horizon: An American Saga' Sets Summer 2024 Dates|url=https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/movies/movie-news/kevin-costners-horizon-an-american-saga-1235609666/|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20231005211354/https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/movies/movie-news/kevin-costners-horizon-an-american-saga-1235609666/|archive-date=October 5, 2023|access-date=December 17, 2023|website=The Hollywood Reporter}} In October of the same year following the debut of the trailer and poster for Chapter 1 and Chapter 2, it was confirmed that work on the sequels is ongoing.{{cite web|url=https://www.entrepreneur.com/business-news/kevin-costner-horizon-saga-premieres-in-2-parts-summer-2024/463370|work=Entrepreneur|title=Everything You Need to Know About 'Horizon,' Kevin Costner's Upcoming Western Epic That He Gave Up His Role on 'Yellowstone' to Make|author=Crosbie, Eve|date=October 10, 2023|access-date=November 9, 2023}}

In February 2024, amid post-production on the first two installments, Costner commenced building a new production company named Territory Film Studios in Utah. Production on the third and fourth film will begin later that year.{{cite web|url=https://www.foxbusiness.com/entertainment/kevin-costner-invests-in-utah-next-career-move?intcmp=tw_fbn|work=Fox Business|title=Kevin Costner invests in Utah for next career move|author=Wright, Tracy|date=February 19, 2024|access-date=February 20, 2024}} By April, Costner confirmed that the scripts are complete for the four separate films. In May 2024, casting calls for background actors had commenced; while production was slated to begin later that month in St. George, Utah.{{cite web|url=https://ksltv.com/642152/casting-call-for-kevin-costners-utah-film-invites-all-ages-and-ethnicities-to-apply-for-paid-extra-spots/|work=KSL|title=Casting for Kevin Costner's Utah film is looking for paid extras |last=Culbertson |first=Mary |date=May 6, 2024|access-date=May 7, 2024}}{{cite web|url=https://deadline.com/video/horizon-an-american-saga-trailer-kevin-costner-warner-bros/|work=Deadline|title='Horizon: An American Saga' Trailer: New Look At Kevin Costner's Epic Western Ahead Of Cannes Film Festival Premiere|author=Grobar, Matt|date=May 17, 2024|access-date=May 18, 2024}} Later, production started in 2023, halting in part due to the writer and actor strikes.{{cite web|url=https://www.cbr.com/kevin-costner-new-horizon-an-american-saga-trailer/ |work=Comic Book Resource|title=Kevin Costner Gets Into Gunfights During New Horizon: An American Saga Trailer|author=Brown, Joden|date=May 17, 2024|access-date=May 18, 2024}} One month following the completion of the previous installment, Costner began filming a montage sequence that features scenes from Chapter 3. Costner stated that principal photography commenced on May 13, 2024, explaining that production had been planned to commence on April 25, and was moved to May 6 to accommodate funding.{{cite web|url=https://deadline.com/2024/08/horizon-an-american-saga-kevin-costner-release-date-cast-1235924613/|work=Deadline|title=Kevin Costner's 'Horizon: An American Saga': Everything We Know So Far |last=Gomez |first= Dessi|date=May 20, 2024|access-date=May 20, 2024}} In August 2024, the filmmaker stated that though the first installment underperformed at the box office, production will be completed in early 2025.{{cite web|url=https://www.today.com/popculture/news/kevin-costner-future-horizon-saga-turning-70-interview-rcna165676|work=Today|title=Kevin Costner says some movies 'don't immediately resonate' — but he's committed to 'Horizon'|author=Calvario, Liz|date=August 16, 2024|accessdate=August 25, 2024}} At the 2024 Venice Film Festival, Costner told reporters, "I don't know how I'm gonna make [Chapter 3] right now, but I'm gonna make it."

Following completion of the previous installments, production will begin on the fourth film. In February 2024, it was announced that principal photography would start in Utah concurrently with the third film, later that year. By April of the same year, Costner announced that the scripts are completed for each installment of the film series. In August 2024, the filmmaker stated that he intends to complete production on the film in spring of 2025, immediately following the completion of filming for Chapter 3.

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{{hatnote|For more details on the reception of each film, see the "Reception" section on each film's article.}}

{{Reflist}}

{{Kevin Costner}}

{{Warner Bros. Discovery franchises}}

Category:American Western (genre) films

Category:Films directed by Kevin Costner

Category:2020s Western (genre) films

Category:Western (genre) film series