Horizon: Can Miniseries Save Kevin Costner?
Passionate project Kevin Costner has been working on since 1988, "Horizon: An American Saga," is not starting off very well. Released in June 2023, the first chapter of the four-part series let down at the box office. Warner Bros. Pictures is now reevaluating the distribution schedule for the remaining chapters; the second chapter is on indefinite hold. But is all hope gone? Maybe the answer is to make "Horizon" a miniseries, much as Baz Luhrmann did with his 2008 movie "Australia."
"Faraway Downs" Miniseries by Baz Luhrmann: A Model for "Horizon"?
With "Australia," Luhrmann—known for his ambitious and strikingly beautiful films—had a similar experience. Though visually spectacular, the film's bloated running time and overstuffed plot turned off critics. But Luhrmann returned to the movie and reassembled it into a six-episode miniseries called "Faraway Downs." The miniseries structure let him better pace the narrative, emphasize several points of interest, and even improve the ending. This method gave the project fresh vitality and highlighted the original story's strength in a more palatable form.
Would a Miniseries Approach help "Horizon"?
The "Horizon" story might gain from a similar reinventions. Although it's doubtful if a miniseries approach could improve the box office performance of the movie, it might help to answer some of the complaints. By means of a miniseries, the narrative could be extended, so facilitating more character development and investigation of the several themes. The rhythm might be better to prevent the overstuffed sensation that dogged "Horizon: Chapter 1." The miniseries structure would also let for a more slow release, so fostering over time interest and expectation.
"Horizon" and "Yellowstone": Two Western Tales
"Horizon" and the venerable TV show "Yellowstone" have an intriguing relationship. Kevin Costner is a leading man in both; "Horizon" was even considered as a kind of replacement for "Yellowstone." Fascinatingly, Costner is not returning for "Yellowstone's last season because of conflicts with "Horizon." Inspired by the popularity of "Yellowstone," "Horizon" was first thought of as a movie franchise, maybe a miniseries format, but maybe the ideal path for its comeback would be inspired by this approach.
A Second Opportunity for "Horizon"?
With "Horizon: Chapter 2" presently on hold, the franchise is in a period of uncertainty. But "Horizon" might be able to overcome its difficulties by using a miniseries approach. It might increase its pace, attract a more open audience, and even win the critical praise it so merits. Although the future of "Horizon" is yet unknown, a miniseries adaptation could be the lifeline required to transform "Horizon" into the epic Western narrative it was meant to be.
