As it remains in a state of limbo, Kevin Costner’s four-part Western “Horizon: An American Saga” has already been marked for dead by some in the industry.
Yes, things aren’t looking too bright for Costner’s saga, and with the third film having only been partially shot, his wallet is already looking at financial losses in the excess of $75M, maybe more. These downer numbers still haven’t stopped Costner in seeking financing to complete the third and fourth films.
In an interview with Deadline, Costner admits having had meetings with some of the richest people in the world.
“I’m hoping, I’m dreaming, I’m meeting all the billionaires that we all hear about — they’re all hiding in the shadows,” Costner is now telling Deadline.
“I’m don’t know how I’m going to do it,” he added, “but I’m going to make [Chapter 3] 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.”
Costner describes the project, and its hopeful completion, to pushing the rock of Sisyphus up the mountain and, alternately, to searching for proof of extraterrestrial life.
“It’s my own private UFO,” he said. “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.”
Earlier in the year, Costner had repeatedly stated that he would be shooting ‘Part 3’ this fall, but that clearly hasn’t materialized. He shot nine days’ worth of footage in April, but production had to “temporarily” shut down due to lack of funds.
There is currently no release date for ‘Chapter 2,’ which was pulled from Warner Bros’ summer schedule after the first instalment, which cost $110M, failed to lure an audience into theaters, earning just $29M domestically. ‘Chapter 2’ did end up world premiering at the Venice Film Festival in September, albeit to weak reviews which further complicated matters for potential distribution.
A US theatrical rollout is starting Sept. 30 in NYC, will expand to Los Angeles and other markets on Oct. 9 and then roll out nationally via a plan that forgoes selling the film to a studio or independent distributor.