As a movie enthusiast who has seen more than a few cinematic dreams derailed by the whims of audiences and studios alike, I can’t help but feel a strange sense of empathy for Kevin Costner and Francis Ford Coppola. These two legendary directors are standing on the precipice of disaster with their passion projects, each facing an uphill battle to bring their vision to fruition.
Currently, Francis Ford Coppola and another esteemed director find themselves in a unique cinematic situation, teetering on the edge of potential ruin with upcoming releases of their deeply personal projects. Costner continues to ponder the fate of his expansive Western saga, yet the fervor of Costner alone may not be sufficient to bring this grand endeavor to its intended end.
Kevin Costner’s plans for “Horizon” have always been seen as unconventional, given the ever-changing tastes of moviegoers and the inherent uncertainty that surrounds every film production. With an estimated $100 million (or more) already invested in the project, the mediocre reviews and disappointing $36 million box office earnings of “Horizon: An American Saga – Chapter One” have raised concerns about the continuation of the next three installments. In a speech at the Venice Film Festival (as reported by Deadline), Costner expressed doubts but also determination regarding the future of “Horizon”.
From what you may anticipate in Part 2, you’ll understand that it’s more challenging than Part 1. Moving West isn’t easy, and the journey only gets tougher. But here’s what I can share. Chapter 3 is particularly harrowing because… As you get to know these characters, life continues to hit them hard and you’ll witness that… They’re all penned in. Time is pressing… Now that the rock has rolled back downhill, I need to touch it again and start pushing it up. It’s a responsibility I can’t abandon. I don’t know how I’m going to manage Chapter 3 at this moment, but I will.
Horizon Found Success on Streaming
Similar to numerous films from the past two years, Horizon’s initial box office flop was offset by a robust premiere as the film swiftly moved to Max. It immediately became the top movie on their streaming service, basking in the limelight. Since then, it has been fluctuating, often appearing on lists of the most popular movies available on the platform.
Initially, ‘Horizon’ was marketed as a two-part summer series, with ‘Chapter Two’ set for release in August. However, due to poor attendance for ‘Chapter One’, Warner Bros. decided to delay ‘Chapter Two’ and advance the debut of the first film instead. This move aims to increase exposure to the first movie before releasing the second. It remains uncertain if the strong streaming performance of ‘Chapter One’ has been sufficient to persuade the studio to continue with this project.
Costner is determined to lead Horizon onto the big screen as a fully realized tale, but the completion of high-budget multi-film series hinges on each film earning its cost. Many franchises have made this risky move in the past, like Peter Jackson being allowed to make all three of his Lord of the Rings movies without any guarantee they would be successful. Although that bet was a winning one, it’s challenging to envision a situation where Horizon could even recoup its costs, let alone generate profit.
The first chapter of “Horizon: An American Saga” is currently available for streaming on Max, while its second chapter made its premiere at the Venice Film Festival and is set to be released on February 28, 2025.
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2024-09-07 18:31