Kevin Costner Poured $38M of His Own Money Into ‘Horizon’ — Now It’s Frozen, Sued, and Heading to Saudi Arabia
Kevin Costner’s ‘Horizon: An American Saga’ was supposed to be a passion project for the ages. Instead, it’s become one of Hollywood’s most bewildering financial disasters, with Chapter 2 now officially stuck in limbo, and insiders saying a 2026 release is completely off the table.
A Warner Bros. source has confirmed that a release this year is “not in the plans,” despite Chapter 2 having already premiered at the Venice Film Festival in fall 2024 to mixed reviews. The film has no release date, no clear path to theaters, and a growing pile of legal trouble keeping it from moving forward.
The first chapter opened in summer 2024 and pulled just $38 million at the domestic box office against a reported combined budget of $100 million for both films. Costner had originally been told the project would cost $130 million, believed he could shoot it for $70 million, and ended up mortgaging his $60 million Santa Barbara estate to help fund it, reportedly pouring $38 million of his own money into the production.
The lawsuits are now a major part of the problem. According to the insider, the ongoing legal battles have “frozen” Chapter 2’s release prospects. Costner faces one suit alleging he failed to pay over $400,000 in costume rental fees, and a separate suit filed by a stunt performer who accused him of sexual harassment and retaliation connected to an unscripted scene.
Despite all of it, Costner is pushing ahead on his vision for a four-film saga. He has reportedly traveled to Saudi Arabia multiple times in the past year, pitching government officials on funding for Chapters 3 and 4. There’s also a deal reportedly in place with a Utah developer to build a $100 million film studio, though no construction timeline exists and additional financing would still be needed to actually make the films.
Costner is currently based in California and remains one of Hollywood’s most recognizable names after decades of iconic roles in films like ‘Dances with Wolves,’ ‘The Bodyguard,’ and ‘Field of Dreams.’ He recently wrapped his long-running run on the Paramount series ‘Yellowstone,’ exiting after Season 5, which freed him to focus on ‘Horizon’ full-time. The irony is hard to miss.
‘Horizon’ was shot back-to-back with Chapter 2 as Costner bet big on the kind of sprawling Western epic Hollywood rarely makes anymore. The gamble hasn’t paid off. Chapter 2 stars Costner alongside Sienna Miller, Sam Worthington, and a sprawling ensemble cast that spans multiple storylines set against the Civil War era American frontier.
Whether Chapters 3 and 4 ever get made now depends on a lot of things breaking Costner’s way at once — cleared lawsuits, new financing, and an audience willing to come back for a story that most of them didn’t show up for the first time. Share your thoughts on whether ‘Horizon’ deserves a second chance in the comments.
