Kevin Costner was honored at the Magna Graecia Film Festival in Catanzaro, Italy, on Wednesday as it was also announced that the second part of Horizon: An American Saga will premiere at the Venice Film Festival.
The 69-year-old actor looked dapper in a light blue coat with matching shirt and white trousers while attending the fifth night of the 21st edition of the Magna Graecia Film Festival held at Arena Porto.
Costner was presented with the Colonna D’Oro at the festival and also screened part one of Horizon: An America Saga and took part in a conversation about the film.
The second part of An American Saga will have its world premiere in September at the Venice Film Festival after it was originally set for a mid-August theatrical debut before being pulled from the schedule after Chapter One underperformed at the box office.
The continuation of the Western epic will play out of competition on September 7, the last day of the festival, alongside a screening of part one. Costner, in a statement, said that his ‘dream’ was always to show the film at Venice. The first installment had a glitzy premiere at the Cannes Film Festival earlier this year that included a lengthy standing ovation that left Costner crying tears of joy.
Alberto Barbera, the director of the Venice Film Festival, described it as the ‘visionary project of a great actor and director, who invested himself in the epic reconstruction of the years crucial to the founding of the country, digging beyond myth in search of authenticity capable of restoring a piece of history in its complex and contradictory reality.’
The back-to-back release for both films, one in June and one in August, was unconventional. Then the first chapter collected only $23 million in its first two weeks in theaters. In announcing the change of plans, New Line Cinema said they hoped to give more audiences more time to discover Chapter One.
A passion project for more than 30 years, Costner put some of his own money into making the ambitious films, and has already begun shooting a third installment of what he envisions will ultimately be four movies.
‘I´m indebted to Alberto Barbera for his courage and leadership in committing to this cinematic journey,’ Costner said. ‘Long live the movies and those willing to stand for them.’
The 81st edition of the Venice Film Festival kicks off on Aug. 28. Among its most anticipated world premieres are Joker: Folie à Deux, Beetlejuice Beetlejuice, The Room Next Door, Maria, Queer and Wolfs.
Costner is the star, director and producer of the multi-part An American Saga movie, which covers a 15-year period before and after the 1861-1865 Civil War, when white settlers moved westwards, taking land from Native Americans.
Horizon Chapter 1 was released in the United States on June 28, while Chapter 2 was due for theatrical release on August 16 – but the first instalment was lammed by critics and failed to ignite at the box office – after Costner’s high-profile Yellowstone exit.
Costner’s Territory Pictures and distribution partner New Line Cinema earlier this month decided to release Chapter 1 on Premium VOD on July 16 alongside theatrical screenings – while Chapter 2’s release has been indefinitely delayed.
A New Line spokesman told THR: ‘Territory Pictures and New Line Cinema have decided not to release Horizon: Chapter 2 on August 16 in order to give audiences a greater opportunity to discover the first installment of Horizon over the coming weeks, including on PVOD and MAX.
‘We thank our exhibition partners for their continued support as moviegoers across the US discover the film in its theatrical run.’
Territory Pictures added in a separate statement: ‘The audience response to Horizon, and enthusiasm for seeing our story continue in Horizon 2, has been incredibly gratifying. Kevin made this film for people who love movies and who wanted to go on a journey.
‘The support that we have received from film fans, and the theater owners, as they experience the first chapter of this saga only serves to reinforce our belief in them and the films that we have made, and we thank them for coming on board for the ride.
‘We welcome the opportunity for that window to be expanded as we know it will only serve to enhance the experience of seeing Horizon 2.’
Costner previously revealed in June 2022 that he planned on making four Horizon films in all, shot back-to-back.
It’s the fourth time Costner has directed a film in his long career, which also includes following Dances With Wolves (1990), The Postman (1990) and Open Range (2003).
Costner has achieved massive success with his work, including his directorial debut, Dances with Wolves (1990), which won an astounding seven Academy Awards from 12 nominations including Best Picture and Best Director.