Kevin Costner’sHorizon: An American Sagafaces another hurdle that may spell trouble for the Western movie franchise. The passion project by the Oscar-winning filmmaker has had a number of setbacks as of late, especially as Costner has found himself self-financing sequels to the 2024 box office bomb. Now, another development in an ongoing financial dispute between New Line Cinema and the company that produced theHorizonfilms, which began withHorizon: An American Saga – Chapter 1.
According to The Hollywood Reporter, New Line Cinema has filed an arbitration claim against Horizon Series, the firm founded by Costner to finance the films. As a part of their defense in the co-financing agreement, New Line Cinema alleges that they require repayment from Horizon Series. This is the latest hurdle to an already fractured franchise that seesChapter 2still in limbo, whileChapter 3started production last year without complete financing. WhileHorizon Chapter 2is expected to release sometime this year, Costner has tried to move quickly on filming two new sequels.
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It’s safe to say New Line Cinema might not be doing business with Costner and his Western franchise in the immediate future. This has Costner in a precarious situation that sees the star, writer, director, and producer ofHorizonseeking billionaires to finance future sequels. Despite the numerous hiccups that have hit the film series, Costner remains hopeful someone will swoop in with pockets deep enough to help produce his passion project. WithChapter 3and4on the horizon, he is determined to finish up the film series before the financial troubles catch up to him.
“I’m hoping, I’m dreaming, I’m meeting all the billionaires that we all hear about — they’re all hiding in the shadows. I don’t know how I’m going to do it, but I’m going to make it, and then I’m going to make the fourth one. And if you want to say ‘the end’ at that point, then that’s the end. It’s my own private UFO. I’ve seen it, and I will never forget it, and I chase it as long as I can. … I will figure out a way to bring you 3 and 4, because you’ve gone to 1, and you’re gonna go to 2, and we’re all gonna go west together.”
What’s Going on With ‘Horizon: An American Saga - Chapter 2’?
AlthoughHorizon: An American Saga - Chapter 2premiered at the Venice Film Festival in 2024, it has still not gotten a wide theatrical release yet. It was supposed to come out a month afterChapter 1hit theaters, but when the Kevin Costner-directed film failed to impress at the box office, the sequel was delayed indefinitely. Isabelle Fuhrman, who plays Diamond Kittredge,suggested earlier this yearthatHorizon Chapter 2was set to release sometime in 2025. Fuhrman stated the following:
“I believe it’s coming pretty soon. I think they’re kind of massaging what’s going on with it, but I actually, as of now, haven’t heard anything. Actors are usually the last to know in these sorts of things. But I was really fortunate that we got to premiere it at Venice, and got to see it with an audience. And that was the first time I had seen the movie, and it was great. I’m really excited for people to see it, but this movie, to me, is so exciting that Wish You Were Here is coming out, because it is a film that I feel like we all put so much heart and passion into.”
As of this writing, an official release date remains unclear forChapter 2. The film stars Costner, Fuhrman, Sienna Miller, Sam Worthington, Ella Hunt, Will Patton, Luke Wilson, and Thomas Haden Church. New cast members include Glynn Turman, Kathleen Quinlan, and Giovanni Ribisi.
Source:The Hollywood Reporter
