It's been nearly a year since Horizon: An American Saga – Chapter One opened in U.S. theaters on June 28, 2024. That is, if you were one of the few who caught it. For a film that cost north of $50 million (before marketing) and had Kevin Costner's full weight behind it—financially, emotionally, even spiritually—it landed with a thud: just $29 million domestically, a mere $5 million overseas. Not even close to break-even territory.
And then… silence.
Chapter Two was initially slated for August 16, 2024. We're now a year out from that would-be premiere. No theatrical release. No VOD drop. Not even a whisper on HBO Max or Netflix, where the first chapter now quietly resides. Just a growing sense that this ambitious five-part Western epic might be dead in the dust.
But don't write the obituary yet.
The Long Ride to Nowhere
This saga didn't just start in the 2020s—it began in 1988. That's when Costner first started sketching out the world of Horizon. He believed in it so deeply, he named his own son “Hayes” after the character he planned to play. It's one of those personal epics—the kind of generational Western vision that studios used to greenlight when John Ford or Sergio Leone walked the earth.
But Westerns are a risky bet. Always have been. Sure, Dances with Wolves (1990) earned Costner Oscars and hundreds of millions, but remember The Postman? Or Wyatt Earp? The industry did. Which is why Costner had to finance Chapters One and Two largely himself, reportedly putting in $38 million of his own money. That's not vanity. That's obsession.
So, when Chapter One failed to ignite the box office—even after Costner tirelessly promoted it, including his candid JoBlo interview where Yellowstone exit questions dominated the coverage—the path forward dimmed.
Venice and Santa Barbara Gave It Life… Briefly
Here's the odd twist. Chapter Two isn't unfinished. It exists.
It screened at the Venice Film Festival (August 30 – September 9, 2023) and later at the Santa Barbara International Film Festival in January 2024. Both showings received surprisingly warm receptions. Even Quentin Tarantino gave it a nod on his Video Archives Podcast, saying it sent him down a Western rabbit hole. You don't get higher praise from a genre-loving cinephile.
So why not release it?
It comes down to control—and cash. Warner Bros. only handled distribution, not financing. Rumors say they weren't willing to front marketing for a sequel to a flop. Costner, ever the stubborn auteur, pulled the film instead. Perhaps hoping it could find a second wind on streaming—like Yellowstone did—before reconsidering theatrical.
And maybe he's not wrong. Chapter One is reportedly performing better on Max and Netflix. And with the 1.85:1 aspect ratio and flatter compositions, one has to suspect Costner always had home viewers in mind, even if he won't say it.
Legal Dust Storms and a Desert of Dollars
Behind the curtain, things are messier. Multiple lawsuits were filed regarding unpaid production fees. Financing disputes. Cost overruns. It's the kind of off-screen chaos that doesn't get PR coverage but kills momentum.
As of mid-2025, some of these lawsuits have reportedly been resolved, but others linger. Meanwhile, Chapter Three—partially shot before the WGA and SAG strikes halted production—remains unfinished. Spring 2025 was floated as a restart window. That's come and gone.
Costner is said to be seeking fresh funding to complete Chapter Three, but with Chapter Two in limbo, it's a hard sell. Studios like certainty. What they have now is vapor.
Streaming vs. Theatrical: The Artistic Dilemma
Costner has long maintained that Horizon is a theatrical saga. But in today's market, that's a luxury few auteurs can afford. Theatrical flops don't get sequels unless they're under franchise protection (The Marvels, anyone?).
Still, hope isn't dead. There's a possible compromise: a limited theatrical release via Fathom Events—similar to what Warner Bros. did with Super/Man: The Christopher Reeve Story. Or better yet, a full streaming pivot with a prestige banner on HBO Max or Netflix, maybe even recut as a miniseries. The footage reportedly exists. The interest—at least from die-hards—is there.
But so far, no official announcements. No dates. No trailers. Not even a poster for Chapter Two. Only that awkward moment at the end of Chapter One—a teaser for a sequel no one can watch.
Final Frame
There's something admirable about Costner's stubbornness here. In an era of test screenings, franchise consultants, and algorithmic greenlights, he made a Western for adults. A slow, sprawling, human drama—messy, indulgent, and earnest. Maybe even out of step.
But I'll take that over another quip-laden reboot any day.
The question is: Will we ever get to see the next part of the ride?
If Horizon: Chapter Two doesn't land in 2025—streaming or otherwise—it might quietly fade into the dust of lost cinema. That would be a shame.
So, what do you think? Should Costner stick to theaters, or embrace streaming to finish his saga? Drop a comment below.
