‘Yellowstone’ fans beg Kevin Costner to finish show as ‘Horizon’ trailer drops
But what about John Dutton?
The first trailer for Kevin Costner’s “Horizon: An American Saga” is here, giving the first glimpse of the project that Costner is rumored to have ditched “Yellowstone” for.
Costner, 69, directed, produced, co-wrote and starred in “Horizon: An American Saga.” It will premiere in two parts: Chapter 1 on June 28 and Chapter 2 on Aug. 16.
According to the movie’s official synopsis, it “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 ambitious cinematic adventure will take audiences on an emotional 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.”
In the trailer, Danny Huston’s character is shown saying, “There’s no army of this earth that’s gonna stop those wagons coming,” as shots pan between covered wagons driving on plains, Native Americans watching from afar, and sweeping shots of the open landscape of fields and canyons.
Sienna Miller is shown in a quaint house, looking fearful as her home is beset by unseen attackers.
The trailer also shows shots of fires and funerals, as Luke Wilson is shown standing in dirt, saying, “All I’m trying to do is get as many of us as I can as far as I can.”
In Costner’s Instagram Story unveiling the trailer, he said that the two-part film is “Something that I’ve been thinking about for a long time, and I made it for you.”
The movie’s cast includes Miller, Luke Wilson, “Avatar” star Sam Worthington, Jena Malone, Abbey Lee, Michael Rooker, Danny Huston, Isabelle Fuhrman, Jeff Fahey, Jamie Campbell Bower, Tatanka Means and Owen Crow Shoe.
In another Instagram post in May, Costner said, “I have to tell you, I haven’t felt this way about a movie since we were making Dances With Wolves. Can’t wait to share it with all of you,” referring to the 1990 film for which he won the Oscar for Best Director.
In May, Costner told Deadline that he partly self-funded “Horizon” by taking out a mortgage on his 10-acre home in Santa Barbara, Calif.
“I’ve mortgaged 10 acres on the water in Santa Barbara where I was going to build my last house,” he said. “But I did it without a thought. It has thrown my accountant into a f–king conniption fit. But it’s my life, and I believe in the idea and the story … At the end of the day I’m a storyteller, and I went ahead and put my own money into it. I’m not a very good businessman, so scratch your head if you will. I don’t know why, but I have not let go of this one.”
“Horizon” has caused controversy, as there’s been speculation that this project led to Costner’s exit from his hit Paramount modern Western drama, “Yellowstone,” his feud with showrunner Taylor Sheridan and the show itself ending after Season 5. (“Yellowstone” will end with the second half of Season 5, airing at an unannounced date. It’s unknown how much Costner will be in the final episodes).
Sheridan himself blamed the movie for the breakdown of his relationship with Costner.
“My last conversation with Kevin was that he had this passion project he wanted to direct,” Sheridan told the Hollywood Reporter in June.
“He and the network were arguing about when he could be done with ‘Yellowstone.’ I said, ‘We can certainly work a schedule toward [his preferred exit date],’ which we did.”
The showrunner stated that he still respects Costner as an actor, but matters between them have become complicated.
“I’ve never had an issue with Kevin that he and I couldn’t work out on the phone,” Sheridan said. “But once lawyers get involved, then people don’t get to talk to each other and start saying things that aren’t true and attempt to shift blame based on how the press or public seem to be reacting. He took a lot of this on the chin and I don’t know that anyone deserves it. His movie seems to be a great priority to him and he wants to shift focus. I sure hope [the movie is] worth it.”
Fans on social media had mixed reactions to whether they think “Horizon: An American Saga” is “worth it.”
“Ok & when are we finishing yellowstone since you did your little project,” one impatient fan posted on X, formerly Twitter, in response to the “Horizon” trailer on Monday.
“Now that you’re done making the 8th Yellowstone spin-off can you go finish the real one,” another fan complained, apparently referring to “Horizon” as a “Yellowstone spin-off,” even though the movie is unrelated to the show.
“But we can’t get a full season of Yellowstone?!” an indignant viewer commented on the trailer.
“It’s actually awesome that Yellowstone has afforded Kevin Costner the capital and opportunity to make his dream 3-part Western and completely halt production of Yellowstone in doing so because he wanted to make it so bad,” another fan remarked.
Others, however, were in support of the film.
“Can we agree on two things: yellowstone is bad and this looks incredible,” another viewer said about the “Horizon” trailer.
“This is probably going to be pompous and overstuffed, but count me in,” another fan said.
“Had me at Kevin Costner and western,” a third fan wrote.
“Oh man,” one viewer concluded. “Yellowstone, you may have yee’d your last haw.”
“Horizon” will hit theaters with Chapter 1 on June 28 and Chapter 2 on Aug. 16.
