Following the most recent revelation in Yellowstone season 5, it is now confirmed that Kevin Costner’s number one priority going forward will be his Horizon movies. Yellowstone season 5, episode 9, titled “Desire Is All You Need,” marked the beginning of part two of the hit show’s fifth season, and finally confirmed that John Dutton is dead. Costner has played John Dutton since Yellowstone first premiered in 2018. However, he decided to exit the show due to pay disputes, a rumored feud with Yellowstone creator Taylor Sheridan, and his desire to work on his Horizon films.
Therefore, Costner can now spend as much time as he wants working on his Horizon movies. Horizon: An American Saga – Chapter 1 was released in theaters on June 28, 2024, and followed several characters as they traveled to and settled in the American West during the Civil War. Although Chapter 2 has already been filmed and Costner has a desire to make a total of four Horizon films, Horizon Chapter 1’s mixed reviews and poor box office performance have left the future of the series unknown.
Kevin Costner Has No Way Back In Yellowstone, Making His Horizon Movies Even More Vital
Costner’s Yellowstone Character John Dutton Is Dead
Even though the first Horizon film was not the most successful endeavor of Costner’s career, the future of the series is now more important than ever after his Yellowstone character’s fate. In Yellowstone season 5, episode 9, John is found with a self-inflicted gunshot wound to his head. While there may be more to the story, the police declared John’s death a suicide and closed the case. While shots of John’s body are shown in the scene, his face is never shown, since it wasn’t actually Costner. Therefore, John’s fate and its presentation seem to confirm that Costner is never returning to Yellowstone.
Costner left the critically acclaimed series so that he would have time to make Horizon , a story he has been trying to bring to life for decades.
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Since the door to Costner’s Yellowstone future now seems to be shut forever, his Horizon movies have become much more important. Costner left the critically acclaimed series so that he would have time to make Horizon, a story he has been trying to bring to life for decades. Since it is a passion project of his, Costner has also spent $38 million of his own money to fund the Horizon films. If the series continues, Costner will likely put more money towards Horizon, so the films must succeed.
Can Horizon Bounce Back After The First Movie’s Disappointing Reception?
Horizon: An American Saga – Chapter 2 Does Not Have A Release Date
While Costner has been developing the story of the Horizon movies for decades, the first film in the series did not perform well with critics or audiences. Horizon: An American Saga – Chapter 1 has an underwhelming Rotten Tomatoes score of 51% and only grossed $38 million at the worldwide box office. Considering it had a budget of $100 million, this was a massive setback for the series. After the disappointing release of the first Horizon movie, New Line Cinema decided to remove Chapter 2 from its release schedule ahead of its originally announced premiere date of August 16, 2024.
At the time, New Line Cinema revealed that it wanted to give audiences more time to discover Horizon – Chapter 1 on streaming services before releasing a sequel. However, a new release date for Chapter 2 has not yet been announced, leaving many unsure about the future of the series. Therefore, while it’s possible that the second Horizon film could receive far better reviews and have a stronger box office performance upon its eventual release, it is currently doubtful that Costner will find much success with his Horizon series.