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. 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 spra.