Kevin Costner arrived at Cannes with cowboy swagger, making finger pistols on the red carpet to cheers from the crowd. He was there for the premiere of “Horizon: An American Saga – Chapter 1,” a partially self-financed western and one of the most ambitious projects of his career.
Inside the Grand Lumiere Theatre, Kevin Costner received extended applause before the screening of his $90 million-plus film, “Horizon: An American Saga – Chapter 1,” the first of a planned four-part series.
After the three-hour film concluded, the audience gave a standing ovation that lasted around ten minutes.
The ovation began tapering off at four and a half minutes but resumed until a tearful Costner took the microphone to speak about the film, which he directed, produced, co-wrote, and stars in.
“I’m sorry you had to clap so long for me to speak,” Costner told the crowd, adding of the movie, “It’s not mine anymore. It’s yours.”
“Horizon” represents a significant risk for Costner, who has pursued the project for over 30 years.
Unable to secure studio financing, he invested $20 million of his own money, deferring his fees and taking out a loan against his Santa Barbara home.
Despite the challenges, Costner remains committed, already completing Chapter 2 and having two more scripts in mind. He’s shot some scenes for Chapter 3 but requires additional funding to finish the film.
Kevin Costner’s association with the western genre solidified after directing the Best Picture winner “Dances with Wolves.”
He further embraced the genre by leading in projects like the miniseries “Hatfields & McCoys” and the ratings hit “Yellowstone.”
With one more season of “Yellowstone” potentially on the horizon, Costner aims to leverage its fan base for “Horizon.”
To maximize impact, he’s releasing the first two chapters in quick succession, with Chapter 1 hitting North America on June 28 and Chapter 2 following in August.
While the Cannes crowd seemed to enjoy “Horizon,” The Hollywood Reporter’s chief film critic, David Rooney, wasn’t as enthusiastic, describing the film as a “clumsy slog” that feels more like a limited series hastily transformed into a movie.
Despite this critique, Costner was supported by Horizon’s stars and notable guests at Cannes, including Sienna Miller, Jena Malone, Isabelle Fuhrman, and others.
Costner remains committed to the project, promising the crowd, “there’s three more” chapters to come.
