Interview by Paul Salfen
“HORIZON: AN AMERICAN SAGA” films One and Two will have a dual theatrical release, kicking off June 28—in time for Independence Day—with the second film debuting August 16
Burbank, CA, October 5, 2023 – Academy Award-winning filmmaker Kevin Costner marks his return to feature film directing with New Line Cinema’s vast “Horizon: An American Saga,” a multi-faceted chronicle covering the Civil War expansion and settlement of the American West. A story of Americana and patriotism too big for one film, this true cinematic event also stars Costner, who co-writes with Jon Baird (“The Explorers Guild”) and produces through his Territory Pictures. Warner Bros. Pictures will distribute, announcing today that not one, but two films will be released in theaters next summer—the first on June 28, 2024, followed quickly by the second on August 16, 2024.
In the great tradition of Warner Bros. Pictures’ iconic Westerns, “Horizon: An American Saga” explores the lure of the Old West and how it was won—and lost—through the blood, sweat and tears of many. Spanning the four years of the Civil War, from 1861 to 1865, Costner’s ambitious cinematic adventure will take audiences on an emotional journey across a country at war with itself, experienced through the lens of families, friends and foes all attempting to discover what it truly means to be the United States of America.
Costner stars alongside an impressive ensemble cast that includes Sienna Miller, Sam Worthington, Jena Malone, Owen Crow Shoe, Tatanka Means, Ella Hunt, Tim Guinee, Danny Huston, Colin Cunningham, Scott Haze, Tom Payne, Abbey Lee, Michael Rooker, Will Patton, Georgia MacPhail, Douglas Smith, Luke Wilson, Isabelle Fuhrman, Jamie Campbell Bower, Alejandro Edda, Wasé Winyan Chief, Michael Anganaro, Angus Macfadyen, Jon Beavers, Alex Nibley, Kathleen Quinlan, Etienne Kellici, Amos Jason Charging Cloud, Bodhi Okuma Linton, Gregory Cruz, James Russo, Jeff Fahey, David O’Hara, Chris Conner, Leroy M. Silva, Bernardo Velasco, Tom Everett, Glynn Turman, Giovanni Ribisi and more.
Jeff Goldstein, President, Warner Bros. Pictures Domestic Distribution, offered, “Together with Kevin, his team and his phenomenal cast, and our partners at New Line Cinema, we intend to make ‘Horizon’ the theatrical event of the summer. As vital a part of cinema’s history as ‘Dances With Wolves’ is, we believe Kevin only scratched the surface of that period, and we are thrilled to see him present an even deeper, more expansive view with these powerhouse stories.”
Costner returns to directing for the first time since his 2003 critically acclaimed hit “Open Range,” and revisits Civil War-era America, the setting for his 1990 blockbuster and directorial debut, “Dances with Wolves,” which won seven Academy Awards, including Best Picture and Best Director. He produces alongside Howard Kaplan and Mark Gillard, with Danny Peykoff, Robert Scannell, Armyan Bernstein, Charlie Lyons, Barry Berg and Rod Lake executive producing.
Costner is joined behind the camera by director of photography J. Michael Muro (“Billionaire Boys Club,” “Parker”), production designer Derek R. Hill (“Tom Clancy’s Jack Ryan,” “The Magnificent Seven”), editor Miklos Wright (“For All Mankind,” “Open Range”) and costume designer Lisa Lovaas (“Ambulance,” “Transformers: The Last Knight”). The music is by Oscar nominee John Debney (“The Passion of the Christ,” “The Greatest Showman”).
A New Line Cinema presentation of a Territory Pictures production, “Horizon: An American Saga” will be distributed by Warner Bros. Pictures. The films will be released in theaters nationwide, the first on June 28, 2024, the second on August 16, 2024.
About John Debney ACADEMY AWARD NOMINATED JOHN DEBNEY IS CONSIDERED ONE OF THE MOST PROLIFIC AND SUCCESSFUL COMPOSERS IN HOLLYWOOD. HIS UNIQUE ABILITY TO CREATE MEMORABLE WORK ACROSS A VARIETY OF GENRES, AS WELL AS HIS REPUTATION FOR BEING REMARKABLY COLLABORATIVE, HAVE MADE HIM THE FIRST CHOICE OF TOP LEVEL PRODUCERS AND DIRECTORS. DEBNEY COMBINES HIS CLASSICAL TRAINING AND A STRONG KNOWLEDGE OF CONTEMPORARY SOUNDS TO EASILY ADAPT TO ANY ASSIGNMENT.
