Kevin Costner's 'Horizon 2' Theatrical Release Canceled After Disappointing Earnings of First Movie

In a recent development, the highly anticipated second chapter of Kevin Costner's Western epic, "Horizon: An American Saga," has faced a setback as its theatrical release on August 16 has been postponed. This decision was made by Territory Pictures and New Line Cinema to allow audiences more time to discover the first installment of the series through various platforms like PVOD and Max. Costner, who has invested $38 million of his own money into the project he has been working on for nearly three decades, expressed his gratitude for the support received from fans and theater owners. The first chapter of "Horizon," which premiered at the Cannes Film Festival in May and cost around $100 million to produce, struggled to achieve profitability despite Costner's significant financial contribution. The studio had initially planned a rapid release schedule for the two films, with the first installment hitting theaters in June and heading to premium on-demand in July. However, the underwhelming box office performance prompted a reevaluation of the release strategy for the sequel, with its theatrical debut now listed as TBD. Costner, who directed, co-wrote, and stars in the "Horizon" series, has already begun filming a third installment and envisions a total of four movies in the saga. He also confirmed his departure from the popular TV series "Yellowstone," emphasizing his commitment to preserving the integrity of his cinematic vision. Despite the challenges faced by the franchise, Costner remains dedicated to bringing his ambitious Western saga to both the big and small screens, underscoring the importance of maintaining the original artistic vision amidst evolving distribution models.