Kevin Costner bet everything on the box office with his latest feature film, “Horizon: An American Saga.” He recently released the first trailer for the four-part, post-Civil War drama and showcased the Wild West frontier his name has become synonymous with for years, dating back to his first directional stint on “Dances with Wolves.”
He shared his gratitude to God for allowing him even to make the first two films during a Zoom panel. Costner said, “I’m terribly satisfied in my own life that God allowed me to get these first two done. I mean, if I’m hit by lightning, who knows what happens? At least I went West.” The first part of the Western saga debuts in theaters on Friday, June 28, while the second part of the drama will be released 49 days later, on Friday, Aug. 16.
Brand expert Doug Eldridge believes “Horizon” will do “unbelievably well” and that Costner is “smart to seize on the opening” to fill the void left behind from his “Yellowstone” departure. Eldridge said, “Every story has two sides, and Costner is undertaking a genuine effort to represent both elements of history, backstopped with a deep, A-list cast and a renewed national hunger for patriotic, Western cinema. His timing, tone and assembled talent couldn’t be better. Prepare for a massive hit.”
In addition to starring in the feature film, Costner also directed “Horizon” based on a script he co-wrote with John Baird. The film came with a hefty price tag, though, and set Costner back more than $20 million in out-of-pocket expenses, which came to light in court documents after his ex-wife, Christine Baumgartner, filed for divorce in May after 18 years of marriage. Baumgartner’s legal team explained how Costner expected to receive a “waterfall” of funds from “Horizon” after his initial investments, according to documents obtained by Fox News Digital.
The docs stated, “Kevin’s total compensation for acting, producing, and directing in Horizon 1 is approximately $12,000,000, and for Horizon 2 is approximately $12,000,000, most of which he voluntarily deferred. Kevin estimates that this money will ‘waterfall’ back to him starting in late next year. Kevin also has a profit participation in Horizon 1 and 2, which is yet another source of income.” Costner mortgaged his $50 million oceanfront Santa Barbara property to ensure proper funding for the project, Deadline reported.
He said, “I’ve mortgaged 10 acres on the water in Santa Barbara where I was going to build my last house. But I did it without a thought. It has thrown my accountant into a f—ing conniption fit. But it’s my life, and I believe in the idea and the story.” Brand expert Eric Schiffer exclusively told Fox News Digital that Hollywood has valid concerns that Costner’s 30-year epic may not pay back the millions he’s personally invested in the project. “He could face some soul-crushing pain, having invested tens of millions of dollars… mortgaging his home and taking a risk that, you know, this kind of brings back memories of ‘Waterworld.’”
The first movie in the four-part saga was in post-production in August, a “critical” time for putting things together, Costner said while testifying in his divorce case. “I’m here,” Costner emphasized while on the stand during a custody dispute with Christine. Costner and Christine share three children: Cayden, 16, Grace, 13, and Hayes, 15, who makes his acting debut in “Horizon.”
Their divorce was finalized in February, and rumors began swirling earlier this year that the “Field of Dreams” star sparked a romantic connection with singer Jewel after they were spotted together on Richard Branson’s Necker Island. Having so much financial responsibility for “Horizon” was “not the smartest thing,” Costner admitted during the “Horizon” trailer reveal. “But I count on people. I count on the movie speaking louder than anything I can say. And so, with that in mind, I just shoved West myself, and I just left, and I went out to make this movie in Utah.”