What’s going on with Kevin Costner’s ‘Horizon: Chapter 2’? The film was originally slated for release two years ago, but was quickly nixed from the Warner Bros. schedule after the first instalment bombed with just $38M against a $100M budget (for both films).
‘Chapter Two’ currently has no release date and is basically in limbo, despite premiering at the Venice Film Festival in fall 2024, albeit to less-than-stellar reviews. I’ve asked a Warner Bros. source what the status of ‘Chapter 2’ is, and they’re telling me to forget about a 2026 release — it’s “not in the plans.”
If you’ve been following the “Horizon: An American Saga” experiment, and at this point that’s exactly what it is, you’ll know it’s shaping up to be one of Hollywood’s most fascinating case studies in stubborn auteurism.
There are clear obstacles at hand here. My source tells me that the lawsuits Costner is currently embroiled in have “frozen” the release. Costner was sued for allegedly failing to pay over $400K in costume rentals on ‘Chapter 2,’ and in a separate suit was accused by a stunt performer of sexual harassment and retaliation over an unscripted rape scene.
Costner is somehow not giving up on his goal to shoot ‘Chapter 3.’ Despite mounting financial strain, he’s traveled to Saudi Arabia multiple times in the last year, pitching officials on backing the third and fourth chapters.
Some have speculated that Costner’s deal with a local developer to build a $100M film studio in Utah could help resolve his “Horizon” woes, but there’s no timeline for when construction might be completed, and additional financing would still be required to make the movie.
When Costner first pitched ‘Horizon,’ he was told the project would cost $130M. He believed he could make it for $70M. It’s the kind of math that only makes sense to someone willing to mortgage his $60M estate just to get the film made. Costner reportedly poured $38M of his own money into “Horizon,” then brought in Warner Bros. for domestic distribution.
Against all warnings, he charged ahead with not one but two films shot back-to-back.