Kevin Costner recently opened up about the release strategy of his Horizon: An American Saga film series at the 2024 Venice Film Festival. The 69-year-old actor, who is also the director of the series, spoke candidly about the decision to push back the release of Horizon: An American Saga – Chapter 2, originally scheduled for August 16, following the modest performance of the first chapter.
Kevin Costner on the delayed release for #Horizon Chapter 2 and his gratitude for bringing it to Venice #Venezia81 pic.twitter.com/iXmPBY8NIB
— Deadline (@DEADLINE) September 7, 2024
The first installment premiered at the Cannes Film Festival in May and hit theaters on June 28. Although it didn’t perform as expected, Costner remains confident in the project, stating that many of his previous films have gained appreciation over time. “It didn’t have overwhelming success,” he admitted, per Variety, “but I’ve had a lot of movies that way, that have stood the test of time.”
Initially, the studio behind Horizon had planned to release Chapter 2 just six weeks after the first film, but the strategy was reconsidered. On July 10, New Line Cinema and Costner’s production company, Territory Pictures, announced a change in their release strategy, moving away from the original August date. Despite the setback, Costner expressed contentment with the delay, noting that the new schedule aligns more closely with his original plan to space the films five to six months apart. “For me, it fell back into my plan,” Costner shared, adding that the delay allowed him to premiere the film at Venice, which wouldn’t have been possible if it had already been released.
Costner also expressed his gratitude to Venice Film Festival’s artistic director, Alberto Barbera, for facilitating the film’s world premiere at the festival. He praised Barbera for championing his vision, saying, “… [He] gave me my dream and didn’t allow it to be squashed. F—, Venice keeps coming to my rescue!”
Kevin Costner is so unbothered.@Horizonsaga Chapter 2’s release date delayed? Dude’s chilling on a yacht in Italy and managed to secure a World Premiere on Venice Film Festival. pic.twitter.com/xYYnE28CQF
— Devil Anse (@billychappel99) August 6, 2024
The two-time Academy Award winner also took to Instagram to share his excitement about the festival screening both films in sequence, calling it a testament to the festival’s support for his directorial vision. “I’m indebted to Alberto Barbera for his courage and leadership in committing to this cinematic journey,” Costner wrote. “Long live the movies and those willing to stand for them.”
The Horizon series boasts a star-studded ensemble cast, including Sienna Miller, Sam Worthington, Jena Malone, Abbey Lee, and Michael Rooker, among others. While fans eagerly await the release of Chapter 2, Costner is already hard at work on the third installment of the epic series, continuing to expand his vision for the saga.
Key Points:
i. Kevin Costner discussed the delayed release of Horizon: An American Saga – Chapter 2 at the 2024 Venice Film Festival.
ii. The delay came after the first film’s moderate performance, allowing the release strategy to align with Costner’s original plan for five- to six-month gaps between films.
iii. Costner expressed gratitude to Venice Film Festival director Alberto Barbera for supporting his directorial vision.
iv. The Horizon series features a large ensemble cast, and Costner is already working on the third installment.
v. Despite challenges, Costner remains optimistic about the long-term success of his films.
Conner T – Reprinted with permission of Whatfinger News