The Wild West Comes to Your Living Room
The wild, wild west will soon be available from your couch: Kevin Costner‘s “Horizon: An American Saga – Chapter 1″ is moseying over to Max on Friday, Aug. 23.
Costner’s Epic Western Series
The first installment of his western series, which he starred in, co-directed, co-wrote, produced, and co-financed, details the life of several characters in the American West during and after the Civil War. Costner planned for the “Horizon” saga to span four movies, the first two of which were shot back to back, but after the first film’s box office disaster, it’s unclear how the series will continue.
Challenges and Changes
The second movie in the “Horizon” franchise was pulled from its Aug. 16 theatrical release date after the first film earned only $11 million at the box office its opening weekend despite its approximately $100 million budget. Costner stated that he spent $38 million of his own money to finance the film. “Horizon Chapter 2” will bow at the Venice Film Festival out-of-competition on Sept. 7.
Delayed Release and Strategic Approach
A New Line Cinema spokesperson recently told Variety that the decision to hold the second film was to “give audiences a greater opportunity to discover the first installment of ‘Horizon’ over the coming weeks, including on PVOD and Max.”
A Star-Studded Cast
Sienna Miller, Sam Worthington, Giovanni Ribisi, Jena Malone, Abbey Lee, Michael Rooker, Danny Huston, Luke Wilson, Isabelle Fuhrman, Tatanka Means, Owen Crow Shoe, Jamie Campbell Bower, and Thomas Haden Church round out the cast of the western film.
Continued Production and Release Strategy
The first installment in the film series hit PVOD on July 16, less than a month after its release in theaters on June 28. Costner started production on the third movie in the series in May and took a pause to promote the first installment. Filming for “Chapter 3” was expected to continue in August, and key members of the crew have the script for the fourth and final film.
FAQs
What is the release date for “Horizon: An American Saga – Chapter 1”?
The first chapter of the western series is set to premiere on Max on Friday, Aug. 23.
Who are some of the actors starring in the film?
The cast includes Sienna Miller, Sam Worthington, Giovanni Ribisi, Jena Malone, and more.
What led to the delay in the release of “Horizon: Chapter 2”?
The decision to delay the release was made to give audiences more time to discover the first installment of the series.
