Kevin Costner addressed the cancellation of the theatrical release of his second film, *Horizon*, on Saturday during a press conference at the Venice
Kevin Costner addressed the cancellation of the theatrical release of his second film, *Horizon*, on Saturday during a press conference at the Venice Film Festival. He remarked, “It might have been a reaction” to the poor box office performance of the first film.
Speaking about the first *Horizon* film, Costner acknowledged, “It wasn’t a massive hit. I’ve had many films that stood the test of time.” He explained that it was the studio’s decision to release the “second chapter” six weeks after the first one, and “it became the studio’s decision not to release it.”
However, Costner affirmed that everything worked out for the best, as it allowed him to present *Horizon 2* at the Venice Film Festival. “For me, it returned to my plan, which was that I always wanted to release films with about five to six months in between. That would have allowed me to come to Venice. I would have never come to Venice, because they wouldn’t show the film here if it had already been released.”
He thanked Venice Film Festival’s Artistic Director, Alberto Barbera, for being “the biggest reason this happened.” Costner expressed his gratitude, saying, “Alberto made my dream come true and didn’t let it be crushed. Damn, Venice keeps saving me!”
*Horizon 2* was added at the last minute to the Venice Film Festival’s lineup, with the news arriving on July 31 that it would be screened out of competition on the festival’s final day. Earlier that month, the U.S. release of “Chapter 2” was canceled ahead of its planned August 16 premiere after the first film, which had a budget of about $100 million, grossed only $11 million during its opening weekend.
Despite these setbacks, Costner said they “increased his desire” to continue what he plans to be a four-part series. “Sometimes when things don’t come easy, you want to walk away. But there’s something inside me that increases my determination when something doesn’t work out,” Costner said. “It’s a story, it’s entertainment that I believe can stand the test of time. When I feel rejection, unlike others, my desire only grows stronger.”
When asked whether *Horizon* contains a message for America as it approaches the presidential election, Costner replied, “It’s not a political message for anyone.” He added, “*Horizon* isn’t a message to my country; it’s a reminder of the difficult journey people have taken.”
Costner is once again directing and starring in the “second chapter” alongside a returning cast that includes Sienna Miller, Sam Worthington, Jena Malone, and Danny Huston. The film continues the events from the first chapter of the epic, which has been described as “a multi-faceted depiction of the Civil War’s expansion and the settlement of the American West.” In addition to directing and starring, Costner co-wrote the film with Jon Baird (*Explorers Guild*) and produced it through his company, Territory Pictures.
*Horizon* is intended to be a four-part series, with two additional films in development. Principal photography for “Chapter 3” began in May and is expected to be completed next year.
At the end of the press conference, Costner confirmed that all *Horizon* films are fully written, describing “Chapter 3” as “devastating.” “You’re going to know all these people, and life will continue to chase them, and you will witness that.”
Discussing the making of the third film, Costner concluded, “I need to hurry up and not let the rock fall to the bottom. I need to go put my hand on it again and start pushing it back up.”
Nabil Alani – Venice Film Festival 2024
COMMENTS