Kevin Costner’s ‘Horizon 2’ to Premiere at Venice Film Festival Following U.S. Release Pullout

Kevin Costner’s “Horizon: An American Saga — Chapter Two” will make its world premiere at the Venice Film Festival in September, following the cancellation of its U.S. release.

The highly anticipated second chapter of the Western epic was recently pulled from its planned August 16 release in U.S. theaters. This decision came after the first installment, which had a $100 million budget, underperformed with only $11 million in earnings during its opening weekend.

“Horizon: An American Saga — Chapter Two,” which Costner directs and stars in alongside Sienna Miller, Sam Worthington, Jena Malone, and Danny Huston, will be showcased out-of-competition at the Venice Film Festival on September 7. The premiere will be preceded earlier that day by a screening of the first “Horizon” film, which received a seven-minute standing ovation when it premiered at Cannes in May.

The “Horizon” series is a comprehensive portrayal of the Civil War-era expansion and settlement of the American West. In addition to directing and starring, Costner co-wrote the script with Jon Baird and produced the film through his Territory Pictures.

Costner expressed his excitement about the Venice Film Festival premiere, stating, “My dream was always to present ‘Horizon: An American Saga — Chapter Two’ at the Venice Film Festival. The fact that they are showcasing ‘Chapter One’ earlier in the day, followed by the world premiere of ‘Chapter Two,’ not only highlights their belief in the synergy of the two films but also demonstrates their support for a director’s vision. I am deeply grateful to Alberto Barbera for his courage and leadership in committing to this cinematic journey.”

Festival Director Alberto Barbera added, “We are honored to present the world premiere of ‘Chapter Two’ of ‘Horizon: An American Saga,’ alongside its first chapter. This addition to the Venice Film Festival lineup pays a heartfelt tribute to the visionary work of a great actor and director who has invested deeply in reconstructing a crucial period of American history, offering a nuanced and authentic depiction of its complex and contradictory reality.”

In Variety’s review of the first film, chief film critic Owen Gleiberman noted, “Rather than presenting a cohesive Western saga, Costner delivers a three-hour collection of anecdotes, shifting between various characters and scenarios. This approach often requires the audience to piece together the backstory and context of what they are witnessing.”