Kevin Costner’s Horizon Delay Is Actually a Good Thing

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Kevin Costner's Horizon Delay Is Actually a Good Thing

Summary

  • Kevin Costner’s ambitious Western series
    Horizon: An American Saga
    falls short with
    Chapter 1
    , facing financial and critical challenges.
  • The delayed release of
    Chapter 2
    may work in favor of the series, giving time for
    Chapter 1
    to gain traction and the marketing strategy to improve.
  • The future success of the franchise hinges on audience reception and potential restructuring of upcoming chapters, offering a chance for redemption.

The article discusses the underperformance of “Horizon: Chapter 1” in theaters and its impact on the release date of “Chapter 2.” The author argues that the delay of “Chapter 2” might actually be a blessing in disguise, as it gives more time for “Chapter 1” to find an audience and allows the creative team to focus on marketing the franchise as a whole. The article also mentions that “Horizon: Chapter 1” received mixed reviews from critics and audiences and underperformed at the box office, earning only $25 million despite having a budget of $50-100 million for each chapter. The author suggests that this could lead to financial trouble for Kevin Costner if all four films have similar budgets. The article also mentions that “Chapter 3” is currently being filmed.

The “Horizon: An American Saga” series represents a significant endeavor for Kevin Costner. This project, which has long captivated the actor known for his leading role in “Yellowstone,” sees him take on starring, co-writing, and directing duties for this quartet of epic Western films. Unlike typical standalone productions, these movies are intended to interconnect as one continuous four-part story. The preconceived structure of the series might have been a contributing factor to any challenges encountered.

In my perspective as an avid fan, “Horizon: An American Saga – Chapter 1” didn’t receive the warm welcome it deserved upon its release on June 28, 2024. The three-hour long movie failed to impress both critically and commercially, with many questioning its merit as a standalone film due to its primary focus on setting up the rest of the series. To put it bluntly, it underperformed at the box office, earning only $25 million against an estimated budget of $50 to $100 million. It wasn’t the promising start that Kevin Costner had envisioned for this ambitious project.

A Long Journey to the Big Screen

For more than three decades, Kevin Costner has been bringing “Horizon: An American Saga” to life, with the genesis of the project dating back to 1988. Inspired by his deep-rooted affection for the Old American West and the authentic history of the US frontier expansion, Costner embarked on this ambitious journey.

Costner and Warner Bros intended to release the films with a six-month gap between them, allowing the 69-year-old actor to witness the completion of the project during his lifetime. The speculation arose that Costner’s departure from Yellowstone‘s final season was due to his involvement in Horizon. However, Costner refuted these claims, stating instead that the postponements and alterations of Yellowstone‘s last season led to a clash with the film series’ production timeline.

Horizon Chapter 1 Bombs With Critics and Audiences

Kevin Costner's Horizon Delay Is Actually a Good ThingKevin Costner's Horizon Delay Is Actually a Good ThingKevin Costner's Horizon Delay Is Actually a Good Thing

In the opening chapter of “Horizon,” released on June 28, audiences and critics found themselves underwhelmed. The film brought in only $11 million during its debut weekend, lagging behind its contemporary release, “A Quiet Place: Day One.” Despite praise for Costner’s vision and scale, many felt the production seemed incomplete. As a setup for the overarching narrative of the upcoming four films, “Chapter 1” couldn’t be evaluated independently. This ambiguity left critics and viewers uncertain about the storyline, ultimately resulting in a disappointing box office collection of $25 million. Given an estimated budget of $50 to $100 million for each of the forthcoming installments, Costner may face significant financial consequences.

As a gamer, I was excitedly anticipating the release of Chapter 2 on August 16, only seven short weeks after Chapter 1. However, my excitement was dampened when the release date was suddenly pulled due to the disappointing commercial and critical performance of Chapter 1. Though it’s still planned for release, the new date remains uncertain. Despite this setback, Costner is full steam ahead with the filming of Chapter 3. This sudden change of plans can’t help but feel like studio hesitation and panic. I, along with many other fans who had already seen Chapter 1, were displeased by the delay, but in hindsight, it might just turn out to be a blessing in disguise.

The Hidden Blessing of the Pulled Release Date

Kevin Costner's Horizon Delay Is Actually a Good ThingKevin Costner's Horizon Delay Is Actually a Good ThingKevin Costner's Horizon Delay Is Actually a Good Thing

Sure, keeping that quick turnaround date in August might have motivated more theatergoers to buy tickets to see if Chapter 2 builds on what was established in the first outing. But a more likely reaction would be, “I just wasted three hours on a long, confusing, and unfinished Western movie. Why would I do it again in a month?” Barely anyone watched Chapter 1 as it is, and seeing as how you need to view Chapter 1 to understand Chapter 2, the second outing was likely heading for an even worse performance.

Instead of releasing Chapter 2 right away, we might benefit from allowing Chapter 1 to stand alone for a longer period. This pause could potentially lead to increased interest and success for Chapter 1 as word-of-mouth grows. The delayed release on home media and streaming platforms may also draw in viewers who were previously uncertain about purchasing a theater ticket.

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2024-07-14 05:31