Kevin Costner, the writer, director, producer, and star of “Horizon: An American Saga,” has disclosed how much of his own money he invested in creating his new Western epic. This upcoming movie follows settlers’ journeys West during the years surrounding the American Civil War. Set to be the first of four Horizon films, the project is a huge financial gamble for Costner, who has reportedly funded a significant portion of its $100 million budget out of his own pocket.
In a recent GQ profile, Costner revealed that he invested even more of his own money into “Horizon: An American Saga” than initially thought. He shared that he’s personally put in an astonishing $38 million into this long-time passion project, with the rest coming from two unnamed outside investors. Check out Costner’s full comment below:
I know people say I’ve put $20 million of my own money into this movie. That’s not accurate. I’ve actually invested around $38 million in the film. That’s the truth. That’s the real figure.
Can Horizon: An American Saga Recoup Its Budget?
“Horizon: An American Saga,” set to release this summer, is one of the year’s biggest theatrical gambles. This is not just for Kevin Costner, but also for Warner Bros., which holds the North American distribution rights. While releasing one movie is risky, planning a sequel to hit theaters less than two months after the first is nearly unheard of. Even if the first movie doesn’t do well, both Costner and Warner Bros. are committed to releasing “Horizon: An American Saga – Chapter 2,” with Costner still aiming to produce chapters 3 and 4.
Despite Costner’s confidence in the project, there are valid concerns. Westerns are a tough sell in theaters these days. While Quentin Tarantino’s “Django Unchained” was a major success in 2012, other Westerns from the 2010s like “The Lone Ranger,” “The Magnificent Seven,” “Hostiles,” and even Tarantino’s own “The Hateful Eight” didn’t perform as well. A Western with a $100 million budget is a huge gamble. “Horizon” will need to make around $200 million to break even, not including marketing costs.
Moreover, while “Horizon: An American Saga” received a 10-minute standing ovation at its Cannes premiere, many early reviews from critics have been less favorable. However, these reviews might not matter much if Costner’s film strikes a chord with audiences. For now, the theatrical success of “Horizon: An American Saga” remains uncertain, but Costner clearly has a lot of faith in the project.
