While the future ofHorizon: An America Sagahangs in the balance,Kevin Costneris looking back at the frustrating journey of bringing his original western saga to the big screen, andhe described it as one of the most painful experiences of his entire career.Costner wore many hats forHorizon(as well as his cowboy hat), as theDances With Wolvesstar wrote, directed, produced, and starred in the movie, and its unreleased sequel,Horizon: An American Saga - Chapter 2.
In the foreword for the new book, “The Great Horizon: Photographing Kevin Costner’s ‘American Saga’"(viaIndieWire), Costner reflected on the long and arduous journey of bringinghis four-part western sagato life — a journey which is far from over. Costner describedHorizon’s story, of “the arduous journey of men and women from across America in pursuit of a dream,” as one of the greatest narratives ever told.Horizonhas been a long-time passion project for Costner, and the actor famously self-funded the movie with around $100 million of his own capital. As a result, he feels a close connection to the townsfolk who are trying to establish the town ofHorizon.
“The making ofHorizon: An American Sagahas been the most challenging journey I’ve ever undertaken.”
“Their dream was passionately fought for, and achieved only by some, and even then, only through the blood, sweat, and tears of many. Tracking those dreams toward the West resulted in the nightmares of the peoples who had lived and thrived there for centuries. This was a story I needed to tell.”
Will ‘Horizon: An American Saga - Chapter 2’ Ever Be Released?
The photography book, by Cale Glendening, features stunning behind-the-scenes photos of Costner and the cast (Sam Worthington, Sienna Miller, Abbey Lee, Jamie Campbell Bower, Michael Rooker, and more) during production. Costner recently shared one of the photographs onInstagram. In the foreword, Costner also addressed the controversy surrounding the film’sdepiction of the Native American people.Horizonwas criticized for painting the White Mountain Apaches in a negative light. But Costner said he set out to tell everyone’s story equally, and without bias. He wrote:
“I wanted to tell their story through the lens of families, friends, and foes, all attempting to change their destinies. From European settlers to White Mountain Apache, from Chinese merchants to Pima cavalry scouts, they each wrote their own story, heading into chapters unknown and unknowable.”
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Whether he’s playing a rugged rancher or a world-weary lawman, Kevin Costner left an indelible mark on the Western genre.
Fans are so desperate forChapter 2of Kevin Costner’sHorizon: An American Saga, they may just put out a bounty on the film (wanted alive, obviously). Unfortunately, the sequel still hangs in cinematic limbo.Chapter 2was already supposed to be in the holsters of audiences, and was given an August 16 release date. But, afterChapter 1bombed at the box office,Chapter 2was delayed indefinitely. The sequel hasn’t been given a new date yet, but Kevin Costner remains hopeful about audiences seeing the film on the big screen. “I will figure out a way to bring you 3 and 4, because you’ve gone to 1, and you’re gonna go to 2, and we’re all gonna go west together,” the actor said.
Horizon centers around fictional characters and takes place in pre- and post-Civil War America, and details the exploration of the American West. Depicting a twelve-year span, the movies feature an ensemble cast portraying various characters and their experiences pioneering into new territory from their homes.
