Horizon: An American Saga - Chapter 3gets a promising new filming update more than a year after the project ground to a halt. Marking a major passion project for writer, director, producer, and star Kevin Costner, theHorizon: An American Sagafranchise debuted last year with the first chapter in what was envisioned as a four-part experience chronicling the settling of the American West. After the first film underperformed,Horizon: An American Saga – Chapter 2’s releasewas postponed indefinitely. Filming on the third installment got underway in May 2024, but later stalled, reportedly due to a lack of funding.
During a recent interview withScreenRant’s Grant Hermanns to mark the digital release ofConsecration,Horizon: An American Sagastar Danny Huston reveals thata substantial portion ofChapter 3has been filmed. According to the actor, who plays the nefarious Col. Albert Houghton, Costner remains committed to bringing his vision to life, with much of the third installment now “in the can.” Check out Huston’s comment below:
No, no. I think he’s got a lot of Chapter 3 in the can, actually. But there’s no stopping him. He’s just unbelievable, and this dream of his is coming to life in a spectacular way. It’s just extraordinary what he does.
What This Means For Kevin Costner’s Horizon Franchise
Will The Remaining Films Actually Get Made?
As of writing,Chapter 2remains without a planned release date, meaning audiences looking for more after theHorizon: An American Saga – Chapter 1endinghave a while longer to wait. The sequel was originally poised to release in theaters in August 2024, but the first installment grossing only $38 million worldwide changed these plans.The sequel’s release was delayed to give audiences more time to discover the first installment, butChapter 2did eventually premiere at the Venice International Film Festival.
SinceChapter 2has been filmed and has premiered, it will seemingly see the light of day with audiences eventually. It may not be anytime soon, though, asthe film – and Costner – are now involved in two lawsuits, one involving allegations of an unscripted scene of sexual assault and another regarding allegations of unpaid costume rental fees.
Chapter 3, however, despite Huston’s promising update, still faces a challenging road ahead. In November, Costner reaffirmed toDeadlinethat he will see this franchise through to completion and thathe’s been “meeting all the billionaires” to attempt to secure financingfor the remaining movies. Huston’s comments don’t suggest that this has changed, but it does suggest there may be less ofChapter 3left to shoot, which paints a more promising picture regarding securing funding.
Our Take On The Horizon: An American Saga – Chapter 3 Update
Chapter 4 Still Feels Like A Long Shot
Costner is clearly very determined to bring all four movies in his Western saga to life, but that may not be enough.Horizon: An American Saga – Chapter 1reviews were mixed from critics and only lukewarm from audiences.This poor reception is combined with a theatrical landscape that is generally not super receptive to Westerns; there just isn’t a big demand for this genre anymore from theater-going audiences.
ThoughChapter 2will release eventually, there is a chance that it will be the final film in the saga. If Costner does manage to finish filming onHorizon: An American Saga – Chapter 3, his struggle thus far suggests getting the money to makeChapter 4could be an obstacle too great to overcome. Huston is clearly confident that Costner will find a way to finish this franchise, however, and that certainly counts for something.
