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Horizon: An American Saga – Chapter 1

Horizon: An American Saga – Chapter 1 is a 2024 American epic Western film directed and produced by, as well as starring, Kevin Costner from a screenplay he co-wrote with Jon Baird, based on an original story he co-authored with Baird and Mark Kasdan. It is the first installment in the titular film series and features an ensemble cast consisting of Sienna Miller, Sam Worthington, Giovanni Ribisi, Jena Malone, Abbey Lee, Michael Rooker, Danny Huston, Luke Wilson, Isabelle Fuhrman, Jeff Fahey, Will Patton, Tatanka Means, Owen Crow Shoe, Ella Hunt, Jamie Campbell Bower, and Thomas Haden Church.

Horizon: An American Saga –
Chapter 1
Official theatrical poster
Directed byKevin Costner
Screenplay by
  • Jon Baird
  • Kevin Costner
Story by
Produced by
  • Kevin Costner
  • Howard Kaplan
  • Mark Gillard
Starring
CinematographyJ. Michael Muro
Edited byMiklos Wright
Music byJohn Debney[1]
Production
company
  • Territory Pictures
Distributed by
Release dates
  • May 19, 2024 (2024-05-19) (Cannes)
  • June 28, 2024 (2024-06-28) (United States)
Running time
181 minutes[2]
CountryUnited States
LanguageEnglish
Budget$50–100 million[3][4]
Box office$4.1 million[5]

Chapter 1 premiered at the 77th Cannes Film Festival on May 19, 2024, and was theatrically released in the United States on June 28, 2024. The film received mixed reviews from critics. It will continue with Chapter 2, scheduled to be released on August 16, 2024. Chapter 3 started principal photography in May 2024, while Chapter 4 is in development.

Plot

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In the San Pedro Valley, a settler named Desmarais searches for Horizon, a supposed idyllic and safe paradise. A homeless man says Horizon was in a land near the river where he discovers and buries a family killed by Western Apache as the land is Apache territory. He builds a settlement there.

Years later, Desmarais' Horizon settlement flourishes, however an Apache raid led by Pionsenay attacks the settlement and kills several residents, including the husband and son of Frances Kitteredge. Local boy Russell flees to alert the United States Army at Camp Gallant, a fortified settlement away from indigenous land. The Army, lead by Lt. Trent Gephardt and Sgt. Major Riordan, assist the recovery efforts of the survivors and offer them sanctuary in Camp Gallant. Frances and her daughter Elizabeth decide to join Gephardt's group, while Russell volunteers to join a group led by survivor Elias Janney and bounty hunters led by Tracker to go after the Apache. Gephardt warns the bounty hunters of indiscriminately going after Natives, especially he is aware that scalping is profitable.

Frances and Elizabeth adjust to life at Camp Gallant. Gephardt's moral code in not interfering with indigenous land conflicts with Riordan and their superior Colonel Houghton's beliefs in manifest destiny. Elizabeth befriends several Army soldiers and is heartbroken when they are called off to fight at the Civil War. Frances begins a romance with Gephardt.

At his tribe's settlement in the mountains, Pionsenay comes into conflict with elder Tuayeseh over his attacks on the settlers. Pionsenay believes that the settlers will force them out and lead them to war against other tribes, while Tuayeseh believes in co-existence and possible retaliation for Pionsenay's actions. Pionsenay and his men, including one of Tuayeseh's sons, voluntarily leave the tribe to continue their quest.

In Montana territory, Lucy shoots James Sykes and flees with her young son Sam; Sykes survives and sends his sons led by Junior and Caleb to go after her. Lucy finds residence in a trading town in the Wyoming Territory where she adopts the name Ellen. She marries businessman Walter Childs and lives with town prostitute Marigold. Marigold attempts to seduce visiting rustler Hayes Ellison for money, before she returns home to care for Sam while Walter and Ellen leave for a sale for land Walter owns. Walter and Ellen realize that the ones seeking to buy the land are coincidentally the Sykes brothers, and Walter is accidentally killed by Caleb when they harass and capture Lucy. Caleb is sent to find Lucy's son in town, where he encounters Hayes. They both go to Lucy's home where Caleb discovers that Sam is located there; Hayes kills Caleb in a shootout. Hayes flees the town with Marigold and Sam to evade Junior. The three settle in an outpost, where a gambler Marigold sleeps with offers her a life of security. Taking up the offer, Marigold leaves Sam with a Chinese immigrant family and abandons Hayes.

A wagon trail led by Matthew Van Weyden travels the Sante Fe Trail in pursuit of Horizon. Among the group is British couple Juliette Chesney and Hugh Proctor and the family of Frances' father-in-law Owen. Juliette and Hugh's ignorant mannerisms put them into conflict with the group. Juliette is peeped while she bathes in drinking water, and Van Weyden warns the two men who had peeped on her.

The bounty hunters encounter and intimidate an Indigenous man in a gun shop, but Russell, Janney, and the gun shop owner quell the conflict. The hunters discover a Tonto Apache tribe and wait for the group's warriors to depart before they massacre the remaining Apache to Russell's horror.

In the East, salesman Pickering Bailey oversees the printing of flyers promoting the town of Horizon, the same posters that appeared earlier throughout the film.

Cast

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Production

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Kevin Costner first commissioned Horizon as a single film in 1988 and later approached Walt Disney Pictures with the project after the release of his 2003 film Open Range.[7] It was announced in January 2022 that Costner was set to direct and produce the film, a passion project for him, in addition to starring. It began casting in February.[8] In April, Warner Bros. Pictures and New Line Cinema joined the production to distribute.[9] In a June interview, Costner stated he plans to make four movies out of the premise and was looking to cast over 170 speaking roles.[10]

In August, Sienna Miller, Sam Worthington, Jamie Campbell Bower, Luke Wilson, Thomas Haden Church, Jena Malone, Alejandro Edda, Tatanka Means, and Michael Rooker were cast in the film.[11][12][13][14] Isabelle Fuhrman, Ella Hunt, Jeff Fahey, and Tom Payne would be among the numerous casting announcements made throughout September.[15][16][17][18] In October, Will Patton, Owen Crow Shoe, and Danny Huston were added to the cast.[19][20][21]

Filming of at least the first installment began on August 29, 2022 in southern Utah,[11] concluding in November.[22] Filming of the second installment began by May 2023,[23] before concluding in the summer of that year.[24]

Release

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In a May 2023 interview, Costner expressed hope to have the first film released by fall 2023.[7] In October, it was announced the film would release in two parts, with Chapter 1 releasing on June 28, 2024, and Chapter 2 on August 16, 2024.[25] Later that month, it was announced that K5 International, the recently relaunched international sales arm of K5 Media Group, would handle international sales on the film at the American Film Market.[26] In April 2024, it was announced that the first part of the film would premiere out of competition at the Cannes Film Festival on May 19, 2024.[27] Costner received nine minutes of standing ovation at Grand Théâtre Lumière.[28]

Reception

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Box office

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In the United States and Canada, An American Saga – Chapter 1 was released alongside A Quiet Place: Day One, and is projected to gross $10–15 million in its opening weekend.[3][4] The film made $4.1 million on its first day, including $800,000 from Thursday night previews.[29]

Critical response

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On the review aggregator website Rotten Tomatoes, 39% of 79 critics' reviews are positive, with an average rating of 5.3/10. The website's consensus reads: "Kevin Costner doesn't lack for ambition as he sketches this frontier saga across the widest of canvases, but Horizon's first chapter proves too diffuse in scope for it to satisfy as a self-contained endeavor."[30] Metacritic, which uses a weighted average, assigned the film a score of 46 out of 100, based on 38 critics, indicating "mixed or average" reviews.[31] Audiences surveyed by CinemaScore gave the film an average grade of "B–" on an A+ to F scale.[29]

Bilge Ebiri of Vulture gave a reservedly positive review, likening its incomplete nature to the 2021 film Dune: Part One and stating that "Its stately pace never feels boring, so it doesn't feel like it should have been shorter. But it also doesn't really work on its own.... And it feels impossible to judge this film, because, in some weird way, it doesn't feel like anything has really happened yet."[32]

Sequels

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Main article: Horizon: An American Saga – Chapter 2

In June 2022, Costner stated he plans to make four Horizon films in total, shot back-to-back.[10] In November 2022, Costner confirmed that the first film had been completed and that the second had been greenlit, set to be filmed in spring 2023.[33] Production for the second film commenced in April 2023, with Glynn Turman, Kathleen Quinlan, and Giovanni Ribisi joining Costner, Miller, Worthington, Hunt, Patton, Wilson, Fuhrman, and Haden Church, who continued on from the first film. Director of photography J. Michael Muro, production designer Derek R. Hill, editor Miklos Wright, and costume designer Lisa Lovaas would also return.[34] The second film finished production in summer 2023, with the production of the third film being paused because of the 2023 Hollywood labor disputes.[35]

In May 2024, casting calls for background actors had commenced, while production was slated to begin later that month in St. George, Utah.[36][37] Later, it was reported that production initially commenced in 2023, before progress halted in part due to the Hollywood strikes.[38] One month following the completion of the previous installment, Costner began filming a montage sequence that features scenes from Chapter 3.[39] Costner stated that principal photography commenced on May 13, 2024, explaining that production had initially been planned to commence on April 25 before being moved to May 6 in order to accommodate funding.[40]

See also

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References

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  1. ^ "John Debney Scoring Kevin Costner's 'Horizon: An American Saga'". Film Music Reporter. August 27, 2023. Retrieved September 2, 2023.
  2. ^ "Horizon: An American Saga Chapter 1 (15)". BBFC. June 18, 2024. Retrieved June 19, 2024.
  3. ^ a b D'Alessandro, Anthony (June 25, 2024). "Inside Out 2 Will Prevail At Weekend Box Office, But A Quiet Place: Day One & Horizon Look To Provide Depth To Marketplace – Preview". Deadline Hollywood. Retrieved June 25, 2024.
  4. ^ a b Rubin, Rebecca (June 25, 2024). "Box Office: A Quiet Place: Day One to Battle Inside Out 2 for No. 1 as Kevin Costner's Epic Gamble Horizon Eyes Concerning $12 Million Start". Variety. Retrieved June 25, 2024.
  5. ^ "Horizon: An American Saga Chapter 1 – Financial Information". The Numbers. Retrieved June 29, 2024.
  6. ^ "HORIZON: AN AMERICAN SAGA". Festival de Cannes. Retrieved May 5, 2024.
  7. ^ a b Fleming, Mike Jr. (May 18, 2023). "Mavericks Francis Ford Coppola And Kevin Costner On Risking Their Fortunes Bankrolling Passion Pics 'Megalopolis' And 'Horizon'". Deadline Hollywood. Retrieved May 24, 2023.
  8. ^ Fleming, Mike Jr. (January 28, 2022). "Kevin Costner Sets Late Summer Start For His Passion Film Horizon, Epic Period Western". Deadline Hollywood. Archived from the original on January 28, 2022. Retrieved January 28, 2022.
  9. ^ Fleming, Mike Jr. (April 18, 2022). "Warner Bros & New Line Partner On Kevin Costner's Epic Period Western Film Horizon". Deadline Hollywood. Archived from the original on April 18, 2022. Retrieved April 18, 2022.
  10. ^ a b Ravindran, Manori (June 21, 2022). "Kevin Costner Wants to Split His Western Epic Horizon Into Four Movies (EXCLUSIVE)". Variety. Archived from the original on June 21, 2022. Retrieved June 21, 2022.
  11. ^ a b Fleming, Mike Jr. (August 12, 2022). "Sienna Miller, Sam Worthington Saddle Up As Leads For Kevin Costner's Horizon". Deadline Hollywood. Archived from the original on October 8, 2022. Retrieved August 12, 2022.
  12. ^ Kroll, Justin (August 22, 2022). "Luke Wilson Joins Kevin Costner's Western Epic Horizon". Deadline Hollywood. Archived from the original on August 22, 2022. Retrieved August 22, 2022.
  13. ^ Kit, Borys (August 25, 2022). "Thomas Haden Church Joins Kevin Costner in New Line Western Horizon (Exclusive)". The Hollywood Reporter. Archived from the original on August 25, 2022. Retrieved August 25, 2022.
  14. ^ D'Alessandro, Anthony (August 31, 2022). "Kevin Costner's Western Epic Horizon Adds Jena Malone, Alejandro Edda, Tatanka Means & Michael Rooker". Deadline Hollywood. Archived from the original on August 31, 2022. Retrieved August 31, 2022.
  15. ^ D'Alessandro, Anthony (September 6, 2022). "Isabelle Fuhrman Joins Kevin Costner's Western Epic 'Horizon'". Archived from the original on September 6, 2022. Retrieved September 6, 2022.
  16. ^ D'Alessandro, Anthony (September 9, 2022). "'Lady Chatterley's Lover' Actress Ella Hunt Boards Kevin Costner Western 'Horizon'". Deadline Hollywood. Archived from the original on September 9, 2022. Retrieved September 9, 2022.
  17. ^ Complex, Valerie (September 22, 2022). "Jeff Fahey Joins Cast Of Kevin Costner Western Drama Horizon". Deadline Hollywood. Archived from the original on September 22, 2022. Retrieved September 22, 2022.
  18. ^ D'Alessandro, Anthony (September 29, 2022). "Kevin Costner's Horizon Adds Abbey Lee, Tom Payne, Wasé Chief, Michael Angarano & More". Deadline Hollywood. Archived from the original on September 29, 2022. Retrieved September 29, 2022.
  19. ^ D'Alessandro, Anthony (October 17, 2022). "Will Patton Reteams With Kevin Costner For Filmmaker's Western Saga Horizon". Deadline Hollywood. Archived from the original on October 17, 2022. Retrieved October 17, 2022.
  20. ^ D'Alessandro, Anthony (October 26, 2022). "Owen Crow Shoe Boards Kevin Costner's Western Epic Horizon". Deadline Hollywood. Archived from the original on October 26, 2022. Retrieved October 26, 2022.
  21. ^ D'Alessandro, Anthony (October 27, 2022). "Danny Huston Reteams With Kevin Costner For Western Saga Horizon". Deadline Hollywood. Archived from the original on October 27, 2022. Retrieved October 27, 2022.
  22. ^ Fixsen, Rachel (August 4, 2022). ""Horizon" filming this fall: Big budget movie to hire locals as extras". Moab Sun News. Archived from the original on August 14, 2022. Retrieved August 13, 2022.
  23. ^ Egan, Ladd; Swenson, Madison (May 2, 2023). "Filming begins in St. George for Kevin Costner's 'Horizon, an American Saga'". KSLTV.com. Retrieved May 24, 2023.
  24. ^ Couch, Aaron (October 5, 2023). "Kevin Costner's Two-Part 'Horizon: An American Saga' Sets Summer 2024 Dates". The Hollywood Reporter. Archived from the original on October 5, 2023. Retrieved October 5, 2023.
  25. ^ Kevin Costner Western ‘Horizon: An American Saga’ To Hit Theaters In Two Chapters
  26. ^ Wiseman, Andreas (October 24, 2023). "Kevin Costner's Epic Western 'Horizon: An American Saga' Will Be On Sale For International Buyers At AFM". Deadline Hollywood. Retrieved October 25, 2023.
  27. ^ Ntim, Zac (April 8, 2024). "Kevin Costner To Debut 'Horizon, An American Saga' At Cannes Film Festival". Deadline Hollywood. Retrieved April 8, 2024.
  28. ^ "Kevin Costner defends his latest, 'Horizon: An American Saga,' at Cannes". The Washington Post.
  29. ^ a b D'Alessandro, Anthony (June 28, 2024). "'Inside Out 2' Sustains Joy At $60M, 'A Quiet Place: Day One' Screams $48M+, 'Horizon' Trots To $12M+ During Pre-July 4th Box Office – Friday PM Update". Deadline Hollywood. Retrieved June 28, 2024.
  30. ^ "Horizon: An American Saga – Chapter 1". Rotten Tomatoes. Fandango Media. Retrieved June 28, 2024.
  31. ^ "Horizon: An American Saga – Chapter 1". Metacritic. Fandom, Inc. Retrieved June 28, 2024.
  32. ^ Ebiri, Bilge (May 20, 2024). "Horizon: An American Saga Is Dune: Part One for Dads". Vulture. Vox Media, LLC. Retrieved May 21, 2024.
  33. ^ Strohm, Emily (November 23, 2022). "Kevin Costner Reveals 13-Year-Old Son Hayes Will Appear in His Epic Western 'Horizon' : 'He's Really Good'". People. Archived from the original on November 27, 2022. Retrieved November 27, 2022.
  34. ^ Grobar, Matt (April 28, 2023). "'Horizon: An American Saga': Glynn Turman, Kathleen Quinlan & Giovanni Ribisi Join Second Installment Of Kevin Costner's Western Epic". Deadline Hollywood. Archived from the original on April 28, 2023. Retrieved April 28, 2023.
  35. ^ Couch, Aaron (October 5, 2023). "Kevin Costner's Two-Part 'Horizon: An American Saga' Sets Summer 2024 Dates". The Hollywood Reporter. Archived from the original on October 5, 2023. Retrieved October 5, 2023.
  36. ^ Culbertson, Mary (May 6, 2024). "Casting for Kevin Costner's Utah film is looking for paid extras". KSL. Retrieved May 7, 2024.
  37. ^ Grobar, Matt (May 17, 2024). "'Horizon: An American Saga' Trailer: New Look At Kevin Costner's Epic Western Ahead Of Cannes Film Festival Premiere". Deadline. Retrieved May 18, 2024.
  38. ^ Brown, Joden (May 17, 2024). "Kevin Costner Gets Into Gunfights During New Horizon: An American Saga Trailer". Comic Book Resource. Retrieved May 18, 2024.
  39. ^ Baron, Zach (May 20, 2024). "Inside Kevin Costner's $38 Million Horizon Gamble". GQ. Retrieved May 20, 2024.
  40. ^ Fleming Jr., Mike (May 13, 2024). "Kevin Costner Reveals The Epic Journey Of His Cannes Western 'Horizon' And Has His Say On 'Yellowstone' Rancor". Deadline. Retrieved May 18, 2024.
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