The renowned actor and director Kevin Costner, famously known for his appearance as John Dutton in Taylor Sheridan’s Yellowstone, has faced numerous challenges throughout his illustrious career. However, his latest project, Horizon: An American Saga proved to be the most daunting task yet.
Therefore, while unveiling the trailer for the film series, Kevin Costner addressed the struggles he faced. Betting almost everything on his film series, after his Yellowstone exit, Costner pronounced his upcoming movies way more challenging than his Oscar-winning directorial debut Dances with Wolves.
The Horizon Saga Marks a New Chapter in Kevin Costner’s Career
Popularly known to modern audiences for his collaboration with Taylor Sheridan in Yellowstone, Kevin Costner recently came up with his passion project, Horizon: An American Saga. As per Variety reports, the film series broken into chapters 1 and 2 are set to have dual theatrical release from Warner Bros on June 28 and August 16, respectively.
Kevin Costner’s Horizon Saga dropped its first trailer in February 2024, which comes as a sprawling Western epic narrating the story of the American West’s conquest. With complex characters, intricate plotlines, and massive scope, the movie represents more than just a new project for Costner. It symbolizes the actor’s relentless pursuit of excellence while refusing to be constrained by the limitations of the Western genre.
Horizon Saga is Part-Funded by Kevin Costner After His Yellowstone Exit
While Kevin Costner’s Horizon: An American Saga created hype in the entertainment industry following his Yellowstone exit, the actor is said to have invested everything in this project, including his own money, making the stakes incredibly high. Speaking with Variety, Costner noted that he wasn’t deterred when no one wanted to finance the movie, instead he part-funded the film.
“Not the smartest thing. But I count on people. I count on the movie speaking louder than anything I can say. And so with that in mind, I just shoved West myself and I just left, and I went out to make this movie in Utah.”
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Despite finding no production company to fully support the project, Kevin Costner went ahead with the film series all the same, describing himself as “a little bit of a hard-head”. Claiming to have spent over $100M in Utah, as he ventured into uncharted territory with his Horizon Saga, following his Yellowstone departure, the project not only serves as a bet on Costner, but also on his vision for the Western genre.
Kevin Costner Found Horizon Saga His Most Challenging Project
Meanwhile, as Kevin Costner promises Horizon Saga to bring complex, thought-provoking narratives to the screen, the filmmaker also disclosed the challenges he faced while making the films. Revealing that bringing this epic Western series to life has been “by far the biggest struggle” he has ever faced, Costner claimed that it even surpassed the challenges he encountered while making the iconic film Dances with Wolves.
“This is by far the biggest struggle. I’m shocked at what we were able to get. I shot ‘Dances’ for 106 days, I shot the movie you’re just seeing right now in 52… I did learn a lot and I was able to use every trick in the book to try to bring this movie to ground and to bring it to an audience. And there’s four of them!”
Although his 1990 movie Dances with Wolves, was his directorial debut that won Best Picture Oscar, Kevin Costner claimed that the Horizon Saga turned out to be more challenging than his initial experience. Therefore, Costner’s upcoming film series sets a reminder that even the most experienced and accomplished artists face challenges and uncertainties.
But on the brighter side, when Horizon Saga comes to fruition, audiences will undoubtedly be treated to a masterpiece that showcases Costner’s unwavering dedication to his craft. The film series might turn his biggest struggle into his most triumphant achievement.