“Horizon: An American Saga — Chapter 2” had been set to land in theaters in August, but it was pulled from the release schedule in the hope of building a bigger audience for the first film, according to The Hollywood Reporter.
“The audience response to ‘Horizon,’ and enthusiasm for seeing our story continue in ‘Horizon 2,’ has been incredibly gratifying. Kevin made this film for people who love movies and who wanted to go on a journey. The support that we have received from film fans, and the theater owners, as they experience the first chapter of this saga only serves to reinforce our belief in them and the films that we have made, and we thank them for coming on board for the ride,” production company Territory Pictures said in a statement, per Variety. “We welcome the opportunity for that window to be expanded as we know it will only serve to enhance the experience of seeing ‘Horizon 2.'”
Despite the setback, Costner seems set on proceeding with the remaining two films of the “Horizon” tetralogy.
Production on the third film began earlier this year and is set to continue in August, while the star also has a script ready for the fourth film, Variety reported.
Speaking to the outlet in 2022, the Oscar-winning director indicated that he hoped to see each installment debut around “every three months.”
But with the latest news about “Chapter 2,” it’s clear that Costner will have to overhaul his ambitious release strategy to see the franchise through to a fourth film.
Representatives for Costner, Territory Pictures, and Warner Bros., New Line Cinema’s parent company, did not respond to requests for comment from Business Insider.
To bring “Horizon” to audiences, the former “Yellowstone” star mortgaged his property in Santa Barbara and invested $38 million of his own money.
The first film had a $100 million budget, and Costner and his financial backers also paid for the film’s marketing, which, according to unnamed sources who spoke to Variety, cost around $30 million.
The film was released in June and made just $11 million on its opening weekend.
It’s not the first time Costner has put his own money into a film he’s worked on.
For his 1990 film “Dances with Wolves,” which he directed, produced, and starred in, Costner used $3 million of his own money.
It turned out to be a wise investment, as the film, which had a budget of $22 million, ended up being a huge success, earning multiple awards and taking home $184 million at the US box office and over $400 million worldwide.
In 2014, he also provided the entire $9 million budget for “Black or White,” a drama also starring Octavia Spencer and Bill Burr. It brought back more than double his investment at the box office, taking home over $21.5 million.
However, the star hasn’t always backed winners. He reportedly contributed an undisclosed sum to the 1997 action film “The Postman,” which was a notable failure at the box office, returning only less than $18 million on a budget of around $80 million.
