The second part of Kevin Costner’s “Horizon: An American Saga” will make its world premiere at the Venice Film Festival in September, organizers said Wednesday. “Chapter Two” was originally scheduled for a theatrical debut in mid-August, but was pulled from the schedule after “Chapter One” underperformed.
The continuation of the Western epic will be played out of competition on September 7, the last day of the festival, alongside the screening of part one. Costner said in a statement that it had always been his “dream” to screen the film in Venice. The first part had a glitzy premiere at the Cannes Film Festival earlier this year.
Alberto Barbera, the director of the Venice Film Festival, described it as the “visionary project of a great actor and director, who invested himself in the epic reconstruction of the years crucial to the founding of the country, delving beyond the myth in search of authenticity. able to restore a piece of history in its complex and contradictory reality.”
The back-to-back release for both films, one in June and one in August, was unconventional. Subsequently, the first chapter collected just $23 million in its first two weeks in theaters. Announcing the change in plans, New Line Cinema said they hoped to give more audiences more time to explore Chapter One.
Costner has been a passion project for more than thirty years. Costner has put some of his own money into making the ambitious films and has already started shooting a third of what he envisions will eventually be four films.
“I am indebted to Alberto Barbera for his courage and leadership in his commitment to this cinematic journey,” said Costner. “Long live the movies and those who want to stand up for them.”
The 81st edition of the Venice Film Festival starts on August 28. Among the most anticipated world premieres are “Joker: Folie à Deux,” “Beetlejuice Beetlejuice,” “The Room Next Door,” “Maria,” “Queer” and “Wolves.”
