‘Horizon: An American Saga – Chapter 1’ Sets Max Premiere Date

Matt Grobar
·2 min read

Horizon: An American Saga – Chapter 1, the first installment of an ambitious Civil War epic from Kevin Costner, has been set to begin streaming exclusively on Max on Friday, August 23.

The film hits streaming following its Cannes premiere and June 28 theatrical debut, which was regarded as a misfire for a big-budget title, at a gross of just over $34 million. While Warner Bros initially intended to release Chapter 2 just two months later, on August 16 — in an unusual move — the sequel’s release has since been delayed for an indefinite period, the hope being to give audiences who have not yet caught up with Chapter 1 a chance to do so. Chapter 2 will screen out of competition at the Venice Film Festival on Saturday, September 7, with Chapter 1 playing there earlier in the day.

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In the tradition of Warner Bros’ 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 cinematic adventure takes audiences on a 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 has discussed Horizon as a four-part project, with production on Chapter 3 already underway. In addition to co-writing and directing the films for New Line and Territory Pictures, he’s part of a sprawling ensemble that also includes Sienna Miller, Sam Worthington, Giovanni Ribisi, Abbey Lee, Will Patton, Jena Malone, Michael Rooker, Danny Huston, Luke Wilson, Jeff Fahey, Isabelle Fuhrman, Ella Hunt, David O’Hara, Owen Crow Shoe, Tatanka Means, Tim Guinee, Scott Haze, Tom Payne, Alejandro Edda, James Russo, Jon Beavers, Jaime Campbell Bower, Michael Anganaro and more.

Costner wrote the script for Horizon with Jon Baird, from their story conceived with Mark Kasdan. Costner also produced alongside Howard Kaplan and Mark Gillard, with Danny Peykoff, Robert Scannell, Armyan Bernstein, Charlie Lyons, Barry Berg and Rod Lake executive producing.

Deadline was first to report on the project, which marks Costner’s first behind the camera since 2003’s Open Range. The project has seen him reengage with the setting of Dances with Wolves, his 1990 directorial debut, which grossed over $424M worldwide and won seven Academy Awards, including Best Picture and Director.

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