Kevin Costner's Investments in the Horizon Franchise: A Financial Overview

Kevin Costner has invested a significant amount of his own money into his Horizon: An American Saga movies. It's been over 20 years since Costner last directed a Western film or any movie, for that matter. While the number of Kevin Costner Westerns is fewer compared to John Wayne or Clint Eastwood, he remains closely associated with the genre. Even in projects like 3000 Miles to Graceland or Yellowstone, the Western influences are still evident.

Costner has been working on Horizon for 35 years, with the original concept dating back to 1988. What started as a single film has now evolved into a planned four-part movie saga, with Costner helming the first two installments. While lengthy, R-rated Westerns are not always seen as surefire box-office hits, the success of films like Quentin Tarantino's The Hateful Eight proves that it can be accomplished.

Kevin Costner Has Invested $20 Million of His Own Money in Horizon

The first two Horizon movies are rumored to have each cost $100 million, indicating that for the final two chapters to be produced, they will need to generate significant revenue.

Costner is really putting his money where his mouth is

Kevin Costner in Horizon: An American Saga shooting a rifle on a horse. - Costner is really putting his money where his mouth is - Kevin Costner Has Spent At Least $20 Million Of His Own Money On Horizon

In a joint interview with Deadline in May 2023, Kevin Costner and filmmaker Francis Ford Coppola discussed their passion projects. Coppola is working on Megalopolis, while Costner has two Horizon movies in progress. While it's known that Coppola financed Megalopolis himself, the exact amount Costner has invested in An American Saga remains unclear.

Court documents revealed that Costner's salary for acting, producing, and directing in both movies totaled $12 million. However, he deferred most of his salary, contributing around $20 million of his own money to Horizon. Additionally, Costner reportedly mortgaged a valuable 10-acre plot of land in Santa Barbara, California to further fund the films.

Horizon Isn't The First Time Costner Has Put His Own Money Into Passion Projects

The same New York Post article mentions that Costner is believed to have personally raised approximately $50 million for the Horizon movies up to this point.

Costner paid to finish Dances with Wolves too

Dunbar standing in front of an American Flag in Dances With Wolves - Costner paid to finish Dances with Wolves too - Horizon Isn't The First Time Costner Has Put His Own Money Into Passion Projects

Filmmakers are often advised against casting their own actors in projects due to the risk of not getting their investment back. Despite this, Costner seems unfazed by the potential outcome. If the Horizon movies don't become summer blockbusters, he still has the opportunity to earn a significant amount of money. This isn't the first time Costner has put up millions of his own money for a film. In fact, his directorial debut, Dances with Wolves, faced similar doubts of failure like the infamous Heaven's Gate from the 1980s, which was even dubbed "Kevin's Gate".

Despite the skepticism, Dances with Wolves proved to be a massive success, grossing $424 million worldwide and winning seven Oscars, including Best Picture and Best Director for Costner himself. During production, Costner had to invest an additional $3 million to complete the film when it exceeded its initial budget. He also put money into other projects like The Postman in 1997, which was a post-apocalyptic flop, and the drama Black & White in 2014. Costner's belief in Black & White was so strong that he personally financed the $9 million project, which went on to gross $21 million worldwide.

Will Horizon Chapters 3 & 4 Happen?

The Horizon sequels have yet to be filmed

Kevin Costner in Horizon: An American Saga. - The Horizon sequels have yet to be filmed - Will Horizon Chapters 3 & 4 Happen?

Costner, much like James Cameron with the Avatar sequels, is taking a big risk with his Western epic. However, there are rumors that he is facing challenges in securing funding for the last two movies. It seems that investors are waiting to see how well Horizon Chapters 1 & 2 perform at the box office. While Costner may have deep pockets, if the first two films do not meet expectations, he may not be willing to finance two more $100 million-dollar productions on his own.

Costner has a large fanbase, and there is a chance that audiences will enjoy a Western epic on the big screen. Horizon: An American Saga is a unique movie experiment that doesn't happen frequently. For those tired of loud blockbusters, this film could be a refreshing change. Costner is confident in his ability to deliver two successful movies, and he may just succeed.

Editor's P/S:

Kevin Costner's dedication to his passion projects, particularly the Horizon: An American Saga movies, is truly remarkable. His willingness to invest his own money, defer his salary, and mortgage his property to bring these films to life demonstrates his unwavering belief in their potential. Despite the financial risks involved, Costner remains optimistic, drawing inspiration from the success of his previous passion project, Dances with Wolves.

However, the challenges Costner faces in securing funding for the remaining two Horizon chapters highlight the inherent uncertainty of the film industry. The box office performance of the first two films will ultimately determine whether he can complete his ambitious saga. While Costner's track record as an actor and director bodes well, the competitive nature of the market may make it difficult to attract investors without a proven track record for R-rated Westerns. Nonetheless, his dedication and the potential for a unique cinematic experience make Horizon: An American Saga an intriguing project that deserves attention.