The New Premiere Plan for Horizon 2
The 81st Venice Film Festival has rescheduled Kevin Costner's grandiose Western epic, Horizon: An American Saga - Chapter 2, to open on September 7, 2024. This occurs after Horizon: An American Saga - Chapter 1's underwhelming box office performance led to the movie's original August 16, 2024, Theatrical Release date being canceled. Released on June 28, 2024, the first installment was one of the biggest box office failures of 2024, earning only $33.2 million worldwide on a $50 million budget.
A Flash of Redemption and VOD Success
Horizon: An American Saga - Chapter 1 achieved surprising popularity on video-on-demand services, despite its theatrical troubles. The unexpected popularity boost that Costner's Western franchise has received on platforms like Apple TV, Amazon Prime Video, and other cable channels has given the franchise fresh life. This VOD success suggested that Costner would still be able to finish Chapters 3 and 4, which gave fans optimism for the future of the originally intended four-part tale.
Horizon 2's Venice Premiere: A Clever Manoeuvre
Costner made a calculated decision to have Horizon 2 premiere at the Venice Film Festival. His goal in presenting the movie at this esteemed occasion is to spark fresh interest and potentially find a distributor or backers. This might result in a possible theatrical release for later in 2024, giving the series another opportunity to establish itself.
Western Ambitions: A Bold Vision by Costner
From the beginning, Costner had grand plans for the Horizon franchise. Horizon: An American Saga - Chapter 1, his first film as director since Open Range in 2003, was an expansive three hours and one minute epic. The film's success on VOD suggests that there is a strong audience for the story, despite the possibility that its long runtime contributed to its theatrical troubles. A venue to maybe expose the Horizon series to a larger audience is the Venice Film Festival.
The Horizon Franchise's Future
It is still unclear if Horizon 2 will be a success at the Venice Film Festival. A resounding success at the festival might spark interest in the franchise again, while a lackluster reception might ultimately mean its fate. The movie's success will decide if Costner's grandiose Western story continues after its early Box Office setbacks.
The Western Genre and Costner's Legacy
Renowned for his work in television and Movies, Kevin Costner has an unwavering love for the Western genre. Horizon places him in the company of Western cinema greats such as Clint Eastwood, John Wayne, and Howard Hawks, symbolizing his commitment to upholding the tradition despite modern times. With any luck, the Venice Film Festival will allow Costner to present his idea and ensure the continuation of his Horizon franchise.
