The highly-anticipated release of Kevin Costner’s Horizon: An American Saga – Chapter 2 has been delayed from its original date of August 16. This decision comes in the wake of the disappointing performance of Chapter 1 at the box office over the July 4th weekend. Despite the film’s target audience of 50+, who are known to take their time to visit cinemas, the filmmakers have decided to give them more time to either watch the first installment at home or in theaters. Chapter 1 will be made available digitally on July 16 and will still be running in theaters. Currently, there are no direct plans to release the sequel on streaming platform Max. There is a possibility of a simultaneous theatrical and streaming release for Chapter 2, but this is still under consideration.
Costner’s core audience, especially fans of his hit series Yellowstone, are more inclined to watch content from the comfort of their homes. The strategy seems to be to encourage this audience to watch Horizon Chapter 1 first and then build anticipation for the sequel. The Horizon franchise, with talks of a Chapter 3 already in the works, is expected to have a budget exceeding $100 million. While the first movie managed to open with $11 million and reach a domestic total of $23.4 million, the steep production costs coupled with mixed critical reviews and audience reactions have raised concerns.
In comparison, Costner’s 2003 western Open Range opened slightly better at $14 million and went on to make $58.3 million domestically. The multi-Oscar winner has invested a significant amount of his own funds into the Horizon franchise and is also responsible for the film’s promotion and advertising costs. The decision to delay Chapter 2 seems to be a strategic move to allow more time for audiences to discover Horizon and build excitement for the upcoming sequel.
A representative from New Line Cinema stated, “Territory Pictures and New Line Cinema have decided not to release Horizon: Chapter 2 on August 16 in order to give audiences a greater opportunity to discover the first installment of Horizon over the coming weeks, including on PVOD and MAX. We thank our exhibition partners for their continued support as moviegoers across the US discover the film in its theatrical run.” Territory Pictures also expressed their gratitude for the positive audience response to Horizon and the excitement surrounding the continuation of the story in Chapter 2. They acknowledge Costner’s dedication to creating a film for movie lovers and emphasize the importance of audience feedback in shaping their future projects.
The delay of Kevin Costner’s Horizon: An American Saga – Chapter 2 may seem like a setback, but it also presents an opportunity to build momentum and expand the film’s reach to a wider audience. Costner’s commitment to his craft and his willingness to take risks in the film industry is evident in his involvement in the Horizon franchise. As fans eagerly await the release of Chapter 2, the hope is that the extra time will result in a more successful and rewarding viewing experience for all.
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