After several months of waiting, the highly anticipated Horizon: Chapter 2 continues to remain unreleased, despite being fully completed and ready for viewers. Fans of the franchise and newcomers alike are eager to see what this next installment has to offer, but it seems to be stuck on the shelf, leaving audiences in suspense.

One of the most significant cinematic ventures of 2024 is undoubtedly Kevin Costner’s Horizon: An American Saga. This project holds immense personal significance for Costner, who has been developing the script since 1988. He even named his youngest son, Hayes, after a character he intended to portray in this ambitious series. While westerns typically struggle to secure funding, Costner’s film Dances With Wolves was a monumental success, earning him multiple Oscars. However, his subsequent western, Wyatt Earp, failed to resonate with audiences and became an expensive disappointment. Conversely, Open Range achieved profitability due to its modest budget. Despite a long-lasting setback from the 1997 film The Postman, the recent success of Yellowstone has revitalized Costner’s career, fueling his determination to produce this expansive five-part saga.

Unfortunately, the risks taken with Horizon: Chapter One did not pay off as expected. The film, released this summer, underperformed at the box office, grossing only $29 million against a budget exceeding $50 million, not including marketing expenses. Its international performance was even more disappointing, with a mere $5 million in earnings. What went wrong? Despite Costner’s extensive promotional efforts, including numerous interviews—some of which drew attention to his controversial departure from Yellowstone—the film struggled to gain traction. Many headlines focused on the shocking fate of his character, John Dutton, who met an untimely end off-screen, overshadowing the film’s merits.

The poor performance of Horizon: Chapter One has cast doubt on the future of its sequel, initially scheduled for release in August 2024. Rumors suggest that Warner Bros., the film’s distributor, was reluctant to allocate funds for the marketing of the sequel. Consequently, Costner may have decided to delay the release, hoping that Horizon: Chapter One would eventually garner a dedicated audience on streaming platforms, possibly paving the way for a theatrical re-release.

Despite these challenges, Horizon: Chapter 2 has been completed and even showcased at the Venice Film Festival, where it received favorable reviews. A portion of Chapter 3 has also been filmed, though its progress has been hindered by the recent WGA/SAG strikes. Filming is expected to resume this spring, but uncertainty looms regarding the fate of the second chapter. The industry is watching closely to see how this saga will unfold.

The question remains: when will fans finally see Chapter 2? Costner has consistently expressed a desire for these films to have a theatrical release. Given the immense popularity of Yellowstone and the ongoing viewership success of Horizon on Max, there’s a possibility he could pivot the films towards a streaming release. Furthermore, he might negotiate with a streaming service for financing a third installment or even consider reworking the narrative into a series format. The films were shot in a flat 1:85:1 aspect ratio, suggesting Costner anticipated that many viewers would experience the films at home, yet there has been no official word on the sequel’s release.

It appears increasingly unlikely that Horizon: Chapter 2 will enjoy the same extensive release as its predecessor. Nevertheless, as a fan of Costner and someone who appreciated the first film, I sincerely hope this sequel sees the light of day. It would be wonderful for Costner to secure the necessary funding to complete his saga without having to compromise his creative vision significantly.

What are your thoughts on the future of Horizon: Chapter 2? We’d love to hear your opinions in the comments!