Kevin Costner Still Plans to Shoot ‘Horizon’ Part 3 & 4

We’re all trying to make sense of Kevin Costner’s “Horizon,” which seems to have a sketchy background of funding. Along with Francis Ford Coppola’s “Megalopolis,” It’s almost certainly the risk of the year in the movie business.

Costner helped fund not one but two of these $100 million-plus Westerns, financed by mysterious parties and Costner himself. Warner Bros. is set to release both films, six weeks apart, this summer.

Puck’s Matt Belloni had previously reported that Costner was “soliciting anyone and everyone” to put money into the planned third and fourth installments of what he’s dubbing an “American Saga.” These are all unnamed investors. We had some doubts that these last two films (Parts 3 & 4) of the ‘Saga’ would get made, but Costner’s people seem to have confirmed that they will indeed be shot very soon.

In an interview with Fox Business, Costner’s publicist is saying that the actor-director will soon return to St. George, Utah to continue filming the third and fourth installments. It seems to be a done deal. Where is he getting all of this money?

I’ve been wondering how Warners, given the current climate in the industry, would greenlight such a risky R-rated project — Costner actually spent $24 million of his own money to fund the film. My best guess is that some of it 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 these films a risk would be an understatement. The last time Costner directed 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. A Cannes bow would surely help to boost their profile.

After nearly 30 years of development, Costner seems to be betting it all in pursuing his passion project. Good for him, and I do hope they turn out to be worthy films.