Following the failure of Horizon: An American Saga—Chapter 1 during its late-month theater premiere, the movie has been removed from the release schedule for the time being. The sequel will still likely be released in theaters, albeit a new release date has not yet been revealed.
Following much deliberation, Territory Pictures, owned by Costner, and distribution partner New Line Cinema decided to reschedule their ambitious release schedule with the goal of giving the $100 million first film’s audience more time to grow.
As part of that endeavor, Chapter 1 will continue to be accessible for viewing in theaters and have its home debut on Premium VOD on July 16.
In order to allow viewers more time to find the first installment of Horizon over the next few weeks, especially on PVOD and Max, Territory Pictures and New Line Cinema have opted not to release Horizon: Chapter 2 on August 16. A New Line representative added, “We are grateful to our exhibition partners for their ongoing support as moviegoers across the U.S. discover the film during its theatrical run.
“The audience response to Horizon, and enthusiasm for seeing our story continue in Horizon 2, has been incredibly gratifying. Kevin made this film for people who love movies and who wanted to go on a journey. The support that we have received from film fans, and the theater owners, as they experience the first chapter of this saga only serves to reinforce our belief in them and the films that we have made, and we thank them for coming on board for the ride. We welcome the opportunity for that window to be expanded as we know it will only serve to enhance the experience of seeing Horizon 2.” added Territory Pictures in a separate statement.
Max’s Release Date is Still Pending
The parent company of New Line, Warner Bros., started alerting theater owners on Wednesday morning about the shocking last-minute move. The opportunity to purchase early tickets for Chapter 2 was provided by numerous theaters; however, those purchases will now need to be reimbursed.
Costner took a significant risk with the Horizon series, investing $38 million of his personal funds into Chapter 1 and raising the remaining funds from the sale of international rights and two unidentified investors. For a fee, New Line and Warners agreed to distribute and market the first two films, with Costner covering the marketing himself. Costner plans to produce a total of four movies.
Despite his reputation for confidence, Costner surprised the film industry when he said he would be directing four Horizon films, which would follow the enormous migration west during the Civil War era, for the first time in decades. Warner Bros. stated in April that it will be distributing the first two movies with a release window of less than two months apart, which was an unusual move. Because of his commitment to Horizon, Costner departed his popular program Yellowstone because he was so involved.
Although Costner’s film did not quite ignite his fans or Yellowstone viewers to the desired extent, especially those between the ages of 18 and 44, it did play best in mountainous regions, the Midwest, South, and South Central states. Costner believed his film would strike a nerve in America’s heartland, just as Yellowstone has. It should come as no surprise that the bulk of the audience is over 45 and the film has a noticeably older tilt.
Warner Bros. developed a marketing campaign that largely included Costner, who both toured the nation and had the film premiered at the Cannes Film Festival. The studio also made use of sibling organizations that are a part of Warner Bros. Discovery, such as TCM, where Costner made an appearance as a guest programmer, and TNT sporting events, such MLB and NBA games. In addition, there were trips to military bases and comprehensive screening procedures in other locations.
The return date of Horizon: Chapter 2 to theaters has not yet been announced. The third and fourth film’s distribution rights were not acquired by Warner Bros. or New Line.