Horizon - Release Date, Cast, Plot, Trailer And More Info
Kevin Costner is a very busy cowboy these days. Fresh off an incredible five-season run as executive producer and star of "Yellowstone' — where he played the powerful ranch owner John Dutton — the actor is returning to the Wild West with an ambitious multi-film project titled "Horizon: An American Saga." This cinematic epic will cover 15 years of history surrounding the Civil War, and Costner is the perfect fit for this story of blood, dust, and tears.
After all, Costner is no stranger to big-screen horseback-riding, as he's starred in beloved Westerns such as "Dances With Wolves," "Open Range," and "Silverado." Adding to all that, "Horizon" is a passion project for the Hollywood veteran, and he's wearing multiple hats for this one — serving as star, director, producer, and co-writer. But what else do we know about this sprawling cinematic series? Well, saddle up as we dive into everything there is to know about "Horizon: An American Saga."
When does Horizon: An American Saga premiere?
In May 2023, Kevin Costner told Deadline about "Horizon's" long road to the screen, with the project having been on his mind in some form or another since the late 1980s. As various negotiations fell apart through the years, his initial concept bloomed from one screenplay to four, and the auteur finally decided in the midst of his "Yellowstone" success to bankroll the project himself by taking out a mortgage on his own 10-acre property.
"At the end of the day, I'm a storyteller, and I went ahead and put my own money into it," Costner said. "I'm not a very good businessman, so, scratch your head, if you will. I don't know why, but I have not let go of this one. I've pushed it into the middle of the table three times in my career and didn't blink. This is my fourth."
So when will see this epic ride into theaters? Well, "Horizon: An American Saga Chapter 1" will premiere at the 2024 Cannes Film Festival in May before its proper release on June 28, 2024. "Chapter 2" will follow on August 16. The remaining two chapters are still expected to enter production in the future.
Who's in the cast of Horizon: An American Saga?
In addition to Kevin Costner leading the cast, the "Horizon" movies have lined up a stunning array of talent. Sienna Miller ("The Lost City of Z"), Sam Worthington (the "Avatar" franchise), and Jamie Campbell Bower ("Stranger Things") were first to join the ensemble. They were soon joined by Luke Wilson ("Legally Blonde"), Jena Malone ("The Hunger Games"), Abbey Lee ("Mad Max: Fury Road"), Thomas Haden Church ("Spider-Man: No Way Home"), Isabelle Fuhrman ("Orphan"), and Michael Rooker ("Guardians of the Galaxy").
Oh, you thought we were done listing awesome actors? Far from it. "Horizon" will also star Danny Huston ("Yellowstone"), Tatanka Means ("Reservoir Dogs"), Giovanni Ribisi ("Friends"), Dale Dickey ("Breaking Bad"), Michael Angarano ("Oppenheimer"), Kathleen Quinlan ("Apollo 13"), Aljeandro Edda ("Narcos: Mexico"), and Jeff Fahey ("Lost". As "Horizon" is a four-part epic, we're expecting more names will join the cast soon, and we can't wait to see which stars will join Costner and company on their journey through the American West.
What's the plot of Horizon: An American Saga?
"Horizon" takes place across a 15-year span before, during, and after the Civil War, also covering the settlement of the western portion of the United States. An official synopsis reads:
"Experienced through the eyes of many, the epic journey is fraught with peril and intrigue from the constant onslaught of natural elements to the interactions with the Indigenous peoples who lived on the land and the determination and at many times ruthlessness of those who sought to settle it."
Though little is known yet about the characters of "Horizon" or the personal dramas that will be woven into the story, Kevin Costner did discuss his vision for the project with Variety in 2022. "They're all different films that all connect, so you're watching a saga of these storylines that are happening," he told the outlet. He went on to explain that the women of the frontier would be a particular focus. "They were often [dragged] out to these places because that's where the men wanted to go; women were following their men. They didn't ask to be in these territories that were unsettled and dangerous, and life wasn't easy."
Who is writing and directing Horizon: An American Saga?
Kevin Costner will be calling the shots on "Horizon," serving as the project's director. Of course, this isn't the first time Costner has worked behind the camera. He directed the Western-adjacent "The Postman," and he also helmed two landmarks of the Western genre: "Dances With Wolves" and "Open Range." In fact, the filmmaker actually earned an Oscar for best director thanks to his work on "Wolves," beating out the likes of Francis Ford Coppola for "The Godfather Part III" and Martin Scorsese for "Goodfellas."
"Horizon" marks Costner's big return to directing after two decades, and we're pretty psyched to see what he has in store. Costner is also co-writing the script along with Jon Baird. An author of books like "Songs from Nowhere Near the Heart," Baird is new to the screenwriting game, with chapter one of "Horizon" serving as his first feature. However, he's collaborated with Costner in the past, as the two wrote the illustrated adventure novel "The Explorers Guild."
Does Horizon: An American Saga have a trailer?
The official trailer for the first two films in Kevin Costner's "Horizon" saga dropped in February 2024. Running over 3 minutes long, the trailer promises the sweeping vistas and epic scope of beloved Westerns such as "Lonesome Dove." It also highlights the clash between white settlers moving westward and the Indigenous people who were already there.
The trailer also focuses on the women who found themselves living a hard existence out on the prairie, with one key moment focusing on a mother and daughter trying to survive a nighttime raid. We get glimpses of worried Native Americans watching the settlers colonize their land, and we see a rugged Kevin Costner facing off with Jamie Campbell Bower, who appears to be some sort of psychopathic gunman.
While light on plot, the first official trailer for "Horizon" is big on vibes and visuals, and we're incredibly intrigued to see Costner's vision play out on the big screen.