Kevin Costner’s ‘Horizon’ Movies Cost $200 Million

Here’s Puck’s Matt Belloni trying to make sense of Kevin Costner’s “Horizon,” which seems to have a sketchy background …

“Horizon”, which is almost certainly the risk of the year in the movie business. Not one but two $100 million-plus Westerns, financed by mysterious parties and Costner himself, and released somewhat reluctantly by Warner Bros. six weeks apart during the competitive summer corridor. And he won’t have “Yellowstone” to piggyback on. He’s officially out of the final episodes thanks to his silly feud with Taylor Sheridan, and they won’t air until the fall anyway.
Despite all that uncertainty, Costner has been soliciting anyone and everyone to put money into the planned third and fourth installments of what he’s dubbing an “American Saga.” Yes, he wants money for the three-quel to a movie that hasn’t even been released yet. My guess is those first two movies do okay but not great (especially internationally, where Costner has had trouble even signing up distributors), and barring the willingness of his unnamed investors in the first films to burn more of their money, the two additional Horizons probably never happen. Costner can then move on and pretend his “saga” was supposed to end with two films anyway.

I’ve been wondering how Warners, given the current climate in the industry, would greenlight such a risky R-rated project — Costner actually spent $20 million of his own money to fund the film. Belloni’s reporting insinuates that there are some mysterious backers on this film. My best guess is that it’s Saudi money?

In addition, Costner mortgaged 10 acres of a $50 million, oceanfront Santa Barbara property to ensure proper funding for the project. To call this project a risk would be an understatement. The last time Costner directed a film was for 2003’s “Open Range”.

In October, Warner Bros unveiled a teaser for “Horizon: An American Saga” and announced that they would be releasing two films in theaters in June 2024 and August 2024, respectively.

Ouch: Fincher's ‘Cliff Booth' Loses Roughly 150 Screens as Regal, Cinemark "Politely Decline" Its Two-Week IMAX Run

Remember when, back in August, we learned “The Further Mis-Adventures of Cliff Booth” would be playing in only around 350 U.S. theaters, "maybe fewer"? Well, it's fewer. A lot fewer.

Michael Douglas Says Jack Nicholson, 89, Is “Not Working Any More" and Has “Disappeared"

While James L. Brooks teased last year that "we'll soon be seeing" Jack Nicholson, 89, act again, and that he was "reading scripts," that idea has now been shut down by his close friend Michael Douglas, 82.

Karyn Kusama to Direct ‘Mouthwashing’ Movie for Sony, ‘The Invitation’ Writers to Pen Script

Sony has acquired the feature film rights to "Mouthwashing," the acclaimed psychological horror game. The studio has hired Kusama to direct, and she will bring her most reliable writers, Matt Manfredi and Phil Hay, with her.

Sir Patrick Stewart, 86, Has Died

A real shocker. There are some people you think will live forever, and Sir Patrick Stewart was one of them. The legendary actor has passed away at the age of 86. We’ve lost one of the greats.

Ken Russell's ‘The Devils' Extends Theatrical Run Indefinitely (!) After $3.3M Box Office Surprise

Nobody expected a 55-year-old NC-17 movie to be one of the surprise box office stories of the fall. Yet here we are, and this absolutely puts a smile on my face.

August 19, 2019

3-Hour ‘Midsommar' Director's Cut Screened in NYC

This year’s 12th edition of the Scary Movies festival at Film at Lincoln Center premiered Ari Aster’s extended version of “Midsommar” this past Saturday.

CONFIRMED: Sadie Soverall Exits Brady Corbet's ‘The Origin of the World' Mid-Shoot, Lily McInerny Steps In Lead Role

Sadie Soverall was just let go after briefly filming on Corbet's new film — no official reason given. She had the lead role. Corbet has replaced her, last minute, with Lily McInerny.

Ron Howard’s ‘Alone at Dawn’ Starring Adam Driver and Anne Hathaway Sets Christmas 2027 Release

This is the adaptation of the nonfiction book by Dan Schilling and Lori Longfritz. It wrapped production in February and has been in post-production ever since. The film test-screened a few months ago.

Jeremy Saulnier’s Next Film Retitled to ‘Slayground,’ Current Runtime is 2.5 Hours, Plot Details

Jeremy Saulnier’s mysterious A24 project, formerly “October,” still has no release date. You’d think, given that it has been in post-production for almost a year now.

Jemima Kirke and Alexi Wasser to Star in Woody Allen's Next Film

A few months ago, Deadline reported that Woody Allen's next film, set in Madrid and carrying a $14M budget, will be "largely English-language" and feature a "high-profile cast."

Fritz Lang’s ‘M’ Tops the Best Films of the 1930s, According to 100+ Critics

We’ve gone through the decades. The ‘40s ‘50s, ‘60s, ‘70s, ‘80s, ‘90s, ‘2000s, and ‘2010s. — all revisited, argued over. Now, here are the results for the best films of the 1930s.

Critics Poll: ‘Citizen Kane' Named Best Film of the 1940s

The results are in, and according to critics, this decade filled with cinematic riches did not have a better film than Orson Welles’ “Citizen Kane.” Nobody should be surprised by this result. “Citizen Kane” changed cinema forever.

Critics Poll: ‘Vertigo’ Named Best Film of the 1950s, Over 120 Participants

It was a closer race than anticipated, but Alfred Hitchcock’s “Vertigo” has topped our best of the ’50s poll, besting Gene Kelly and Stanley Donen’s “Singin’ in the Rain” by just two votes.

Trending

Critics Polls