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Kevin Costner’s Western Saga Faces Another Devastating Blow

Kevin Costner wears a cowboy hat and a large mustache in 'Horizon' imageImage via © Warner Bros. /Courtesy Everett Collection

By Britta DeVore Published Feb 14, 2026, 6:00 PM EST Britta DeVore is a Senior Author for Collider who has been known to dabble with Reality News as well. Have you seen stories about 'Chucky,' 'Scream,' 'Buffy the Vampire Slayer,' 'The Boys,' 'Vanderpump Rules,' or any of 'The Real Housewives' franchises? That's probably a Britta DeVore-curated piece of art, and it sounds like you have great taste. When she isn't sitting behind her laptop bringing readers her hot takes on upcoming projects or keeping the dream alive in the Senior News team, Britta can usually be found outside hiking or inside behind her drum set. She currently plays in two bands, Kid Midnight and Watergate, both based in Brooklyn. An obsessive traveler, Britta loves long road trips to the South West and has a soft spot in her heart for canyons, rivers, and forests. She also has a tiny cat named Athena that she loves more than anything else in the world and is always happy for new brewery recs. Sign in to your Collider account Add Us On follow Follow followed Followed Like Like Thread 1 Log in Here is a fact-based summary of the story contents: Try something different: Show me the facts Explain it like I’m 5 Give me a lighthearted recap

Like salt and pepper or peanut butter and jelly, Kevin Costner and the West go together. Since the early days of his on-screen career, the actor has had an affinity for traveling back through time to the days when folks were attempting to claim property up to the Mississippi and beyond. His obsession with all things cowboys and pioneers was even the primary drive behind his jump from working in front of the camera to behind it when, in 1990, Costner gave filmmaking a shot for the very first time with his critically acclaimed epic Western, Dances With Wolves, in which he also starred. Since then, his love for cowboy hats and cattle wranglers has continued to grow tenfold and nowadays, it seems that every project he’s involved with has some sort of Western flair.

At the height of his Western fascination, Costner starred in the hit series Yellowstone, which saw him appear in the role of John Dutton — a family man, ranch owner, and cold-hearted killer — who will do anything to hold onto his power and ensure his family’s ranch reins supreme. During his tenure on the Taylor Sheridan-created production, the performer landed numerous nominations and wins on the awards season circuit, including a Golden Globe. But, eventually, he grew bored with the series and suffered a falling out with Sheridan, which sent him packing and onto the next thing.

As one could have seen coming a mile away, the next thing was a Western, but this time Costner wanted to play by his own rules. Returning to a position that he feels increasingly comfortable in, Costner set out to not only star in but also direct his passion project, a movie called Horizon: An American Saga, which is meant to span four movies in total. Unfortunately, the only one that managed to see the light of day (so far) is the first installment, which came out back in 2024. As elusive as the rest of the films in Costner’s costly film series, time is running out for audiences to stream the first part of Horizon, as it will soon ride off into the sunset and leave HBO Max in the dust on February 28.

Will ‘Horizon’ Ever Continue?

Set against the backdrop of the great American West, Horizon focuses its lens on a handful of different characters all fighting for survival during some of the country’s deadliest years. Despite having plenty of hope and sinking a massive amount of his funds into it, Costner’s first chapter in his hopeful franchise faltered at the box office. And, while the second movie is said to be completely done, it hasn’t yet been released. In the two years since the first installment galloped into cinemas, the director and his team have faced plenty of scrutiny and scandal. From financial troubles to allegations of sexual harassment, it seems like the wheels have completely fallen off this covered wagon.

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Head over to HBO Max before February 28 to see Costner’s passion project come to life.

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Horizon: An American Saga - Chapter 1

Like Follow Followed R Western Drama Release Date June 28, 2024 Runtime 182 minutes Director Kevin Costner Writers Jon Baird, Kevin Costner Producers Howard Kaplan, Mark Gillard