“I Should Be In Therapy”: Why Kevin Costner Made A Multi-Movie Western Saga After Years Of No Studio Interest
Summary
Horizon: An American Sagadirector, writer, producer, and star Kevin Costner defends contributing even more money than was initially reported to his Western epic. Representing a decades-old passion project for Costner, the upcoming film, which is intended to serve as the first in a four-part saga, chronicles a period before and after the American Civil War as settlers move West. Ahead of theHorizon: An American Sagarelease date, much has been written about the film’s $100 budget and commercial prospects, withCostner previously reported to have put $38 millionof his own money into the movie.
In a recent interview withEmpire Magazine,Costner clarifies that he’s actually put $58 million of his own money intoHorizon: An American Saga. It remains unclear, however, whether or how this money has been split across the multi-part franchise. It’s possible, for example, that the earlier $38 million figure was correct and that this new number takes into accountHorizon: An American Saga – Chapter 3, which has just started production. Check out Costner’s comments on the self-financing below:
“I think at this moment, it’s about $58 million in cash. And what that means, f–ker, is that you can’t get a ticket half-price. If you do that, I’m going to make sure when I get to London, I’m going to look you up, and when you see me come through the door you don’t think ‘Kevin’, you think ‘Hayes’. (Laughs)
“I understand. I’m not a fool, but I’m not afraid I will own this movie the rest of my life. So will my family. And movies are a lot more than their opening weekend. They have value throughout their life, and I will own this movie throughout my life. And people will find it. And when they do, whether it’s opening weekend or not, they’re going to find a quality. They’re going to find a story that they’re going to want to revisit or share with someone. And that’s the power of a movie to me.
“What happens is that can also translate into commerce. My hope is that I get this money back, but you know what, I’m not going to fall apart if it [doesn’t happen]. I’ll lose some things that I had valued, but they’re just things I’ve kept. I should add, I don’t want to have to ever do this again. But I don’t live my life in fear.”
Will Kevin Costner’s Horizon Gamble Pay Off?
The Western Saga Is A Major Risk
Costner clearly believes inHorizon: An American Saga, butthere’s certainly reason to doubt the project’s commercial prospects.Westerns, for example, haven’t been reliable as a genre for decades now. Movies likeThe Lone Ranger(2013), andThe Hateful Eight(2015), andThe Magnificent Seven(2016) all underperformed during their theatrical windows.
The real gamble isn’t making a $100 million Western, it’s making four.
What’s more, theHorizon: An American Sagareviewshaven’t been positive so far. The film currently sits at a lackluster 38% score onRotten Tomatoes, suggestingcritics haven’t been enjoying the project. It’s still possible, however, that audiences will have a different reaction, but whether they actually show up at the theater to support the project is a major question mark. As Costner says, though, the film does seem likely to end up finding success on home viewing platforms in the months after release.
The real gamble isn’t making a $100 million Western, it’s making four. If the first movie ends up tanking at the box office,Horizon: An American Saga– Chapter 2hits theatersonly weeks later and will probably do even worse. The same can be said for the in-production third film and the fourth, which Costner seems determined to get off the ground. Many questions remain aboutHorizon: An American Saga, but the first film is now only a few weeks away.
Horizon: An American Saga - Chapter 1
Cast
Horizon: An American Saga - Chapter 1 is set in 1859, following families as they settle in territories from Wyoming to Kansas. The narrative centers around a cowboy on the run with a prostitute and a young boy after a deadly confrontation, exploring the challenges of life in the Old West.
