The next bit of Kevin Costner’s western epic saga, Horizon: An American Saga – Chapter 2 is heading to Venice for its premiere.
The US cinema release date of Horizon: An American Saga – Chapter 2 may have been thrown into doubt following the first film’s sluggish box office performance, but it’ll still get a glitzy debut in Venice later this year.
Actor, writer, director and producer Kevin Costner’s epic western will make its debut at the city of canals’ film festival on the 7th September, with the first chapter set to screen earlier on the same day. Chapter 1 weighed in at a shade over three hours long, while the sequel isn’t much shorter at around two hours 45 minutes. If you’re heading to the Venice International Film Festival this autumn and plan on catching both movies, we’d recommend taking a pillow with you, or perhaps a tub of saddle sore ointment.
Starring Sienna Miller, Sam Worthington, Danny Huston, Jenna Malone and more besides, the first Horizon: An American Saga made its debut at the Cannes Film Festival in May this year before making its wider cinema release for the rest of us muggles in June. About the turbulence – and violence – that goes hand in hand with establishing the titular town of Horizon in 1850s America, the films are a labour of love for Costner, with the multi-hyphenate star initially working on the project decades ago, and having sunk his own financing into the saga to get it going.
Read more: Horizon: An American Saga: Chapter 1 review | Kevin Costner sets his dominoes up
Chapter 2 was originally due for release on the 16th August 2024 – which would have made it fascinating counter-programming next to Alien: Romulus, out the same day – but this was delayed indefinitely when Chapter One struggled to recoup its $50m budget in cinemas.
Costner plans to make a total of four films in the Horizon series, with work on Chapter 3 already ongoing. A warm reception in Venice this September could help Costner achieve his ambitious goal.
“My dream was always to show Horizon: An American Saga – Chapter Two at the Venice Film Festival,” Costner said in a statement published by Deadline. “The fact that now they have decided to show Chapter One earlier in the day and then the World Premiere of Chapter Two that evening shows not only their belief in how the two films work together but their support of a director’s vision. I’m indebted to Alberto Barbera for his courage and leadership in committing to this cinematic journey. It is with gratitude and excitement that I return to the Venice Film Festival. Long live the movies and those willing to stand for them.”
