Finally: we’ve had confirmation that Horizon: An American Saga, from Kevin Costner, will be heading to UK cinemas this summer.
Long time readers of this site may be aware of my personal levels of excitement surrounded Kevin Costner’s return to directing for the first time since 2003’s Open Range. He’s going for it too with Horizon: An American Saga, a planned collection of four films, of which two have been shot and are being readied for release.
We’ve known for some time that the films – the first of which debuts at the Cannes Film Festival – will be heading to cinemas in the US courtesy of Warner Bros (via New Line). The non-US rights situation had been less clear, but we finally have an answer: Warner Bros is also distributing here in the UK.
What’s more, it’s going to be putting the first two films out into cinemas. We’ve got release dates in the UK of 28th June for Horizon: An American Saga – Part 1, and we’re hearing that 14th August is when we’re getting Horizon: An American Saga – Part 2. Just awaiting absolute confirmation on the latter.
Big screen westerns are in such short supply, and come what may with these films, Kevin Costner has put his own funds in to make them happen. He stars, he directs, he produces and he’s co-written the script. You can’t accuse the man of not going for it.
Obviously, I can’t wait, and now need a lie down given that we’ve finally, finally got a UK cinema release confirmed. For the moment, here’s the trailer and the synopsis. Take a mooch, while I go off and pre-book my tickets…
And that synopsis…
Academy Award-winning visionary filmmaker Kevin Costner directs New Line Cinema’s vast “Horizon: An American Saga” Chapters One and Two, a multi-faceted chronicle covering the Civil War expansion and settlement of the American West. A story of America too big for one film, this true cinematic event also stars Costner, who co-writes with Jon Baird (“The Explorers Guild”) and produces through his Territory Pictures. In the great tradition of Warner Bros. Pictures’ iconic Westerns, “Horizon: An American Saga” explores the lure of the Old West and how it was won—and lost—through the blood, sweat and tears of many. Spanning the four years of the Civil War, from 1861 to 1865, Costner’s ambitious cinematic adventure will take audiences on an emotional journey across a country at war with itself, experienced through the lens of families, friends and foes all attempting to discover what it truly means to be the United States of America.
More as I hear it…
