Kevin Costner‘s ambitious Western film series Horizon: An American Saga is facing significant hurdles with the delay of its sequel Horizon: Chapter 2 due to the disappointing reception of its first part.

Originally set to release on August 16, Horizon: Chapter 2 has been put on hold while the project’s team adjusts its plans. The initial film Horizon: Chapter 1, which Costner directed, co-wrote, and financed with $38 million of his own money plus additional funds from other investors and international sales, struggled at the box office. It only earned $11 million during its opening weekend and received a lukewarm response from critics, scoring 43% on Rotten Tomatoes. Audience turnout was also lower than expected.

Despite these challenges, Costner remains dedicated to his vision of exploring the American West during the Civil War era through this series. He is already preparing to start filming Horizon: Chapter 3 in August, showing his commitment to continuing the saga.

The decision to delay Chapter 2 aims to give more time for people to discover the first film. To broaden its audience, Chapter 1 will be available on Premium Video on Demand (VOD) starting July 16, hoping to reignite interest beyond its initial theatre run.

Costner’s ambitious project has been both surprising and challenging for Hollywood. While some regions like the mountains, Midwest, and South responded positively, nationwide enthusiasm has been mixed. This regional divide presents a strategic challenge as the team plans future releases. Warner Bros., the film’s distributor, has informed theatre owners about the postponement, reflecting a collaborative effort to navigate the series’ rollout amid its current challenges.

As Costner pushes forward with his vision, the uncertainty surrounding Horizon: Chapter 2 release highlights the complexities of bringing such a large-scale, passion-driven project to life in today’s competitive film industry. His endeavour to capture the essence of the Old West and its historical complexities continues, with hopes resting on future instalments to potentially reshape the trajectory of the Horizon: An American Saga series.