Kevin Costner’s highly anticipated movie (series) Horizon: An American Saga is seemingly serving as the actor’s Yellowstone replacement, but based on the first trailer, his characters in both projects are quite different. The epic Western film, directed by Costner and written by Costner and Jon Baird, will be split into two “chapters,” with both premiering in 2024. However, Costner plans to produce four Horizon movies in total, and the probability of the two extra installments happening likely depends on whether Chapter 1 and Chapter 2 perform well at the box office and are received well by critics and audiences.
Although a lot of hype surrounds Horizon: An American Saga, a bit of controversy accompanies it as Costner exited his role as John Dutton in Yellowstone to work on his epic Western. Costner reportedly wanted to make time in his Yellowstone schedule to work on and promote Horizon: An American Saga. However, he and the producers couldn’t agree on a contract, resulting in the actor leaving the series. Some still hope that Costner will return in the final season to give closure to John’s story, but at least his time playing complex (but different) characters in Westerns is far from over.
This Horizon Scene Proves Kevin Costner’s Character Isn’t A John Dutton Clone
Kevin Costner’s Characters Have 2 Different Approaches To Conflict
Warner Bros. Pictures released the second official trailer of Horizon: An American Saga, and there is a moment in the video that proves Kevin Costner’s character in the upcoming film, Hayes Ellison, isn’t the same as John Dutton in Yellowstone. Towards the end of the trailer, a man goads Hayes by telling him, “You be careful. Someone’s gonna take that gun and wrap you with it.” Hayes clearly didn’t like what he heard because he almost immediately kicked and punched the guy, knocking him out, which is something John Dutton would never do.
Whereas Yellowstone portrays John Dutton as a calculated “cowboy mob boss,” Hayes appears to be much more passionate and involved in Horizon: An American Saga .
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Costner’s character in Horizon: An American Saga seems to be impulsive, reckless, and desperate, while John Dutton is quite the opposite in Yellowstone. John Dutton is meticulous and patient, and he probably would have walked away in that situation where the man provoked Hayes and plotted his revenge like a chess player. Whereas Yellowstone portrays John Dutton as a calculated “cowboy mob boss,” Hayes appears to be much more passionate and involved in Horizon: An American Saga. Hayes is not afraid to get his hands dirty, while John Dutton lets other people do his dirty work.
Horizon Needs All The Yellowstone Differences It Can Get
Kevin Costner’s Epic Western Must Separate Itself From Yellowstone
Kevin Costner’s character in Horizon: An American Saga being the complete opposite of John Dutton is a good sign for the epic Western, as it must differentiate itself from Yellowstone as much as possible. Given the controversy surrounding Costner’s exit from the Paramount series and the fact that both the movie(s) and the show are Westerns, audiences are undoubtedly going to be comparing the two. Plus, Horizon: An American Saga — Chapter 1, Horizon: An American Saga — Chapter 2, and Yellowstone season 5, part 2 will all be released in 2024, allowing viewers to have fresh opinions on both projects.
Many are already drawing comparisons between Horizon: An American Saga and Yellowstone, so, Costner must prove that his upcoming project is nothing like his former series. Costner invested a lot of money in the Horizon movies, after all, and he needs them to succeed (and optimistically perform better than the show he left not on good terms). Thankfully, the trailer is already showcasing how Horizon: An American Saga is different from Yellowstone by demonstrating that Costner was able to separate Hayes Ellison from John Dutton completely. Consequently, audiences shouldn’t be thinking of John Dutton while witnessing Costner’s performance in Horizon.
What Kevin Costner’s Horizon Character Has In Common With Yellowstone’s John Dutton
The Two Still Seem To Share 1 Similarity
Although, based on Horizon: An American Saga’s trailer, Kevin Costner’s role in the epic Western is very different from John Dutton in Yellowstone, they seemingly have one thing in common — they’re both leaders. Hayes Ellison and John Dutton are the faces of their respective projects, meaning they’re in control of the narrative and are characters that others look to for guidance and protection. However, that appears to be their only similarity, even though there is much more to learn about Hayes in Horizon: An American Saga.