Kevin Costner is betting on himself, but it’s costing him a lot of money. The 68-year-old actor has a two-part Western, Horizons: An American Saga, that he’s been busy directing, writing, producing, and starring in. He reportedly put up his $145 million Carpinteria, California estate to fund the project — however, he needs additional funds.
There’s a third and fourth part to this franchise and that’s where the buck stops. According to the entertainment industry newsletter, Puck, Costner is running into serious trouble with getting financiers to jump aboard. The first two parts of his Western saga won’t have any issues since they are scheduled to be released in June and August this summer, but the Oscar winner needs funding in order to film the final two parts.
Screen Rant noted that Costner’s passion project is considered to be “a major gamble in today’s theatrical landscape” because the budget for each film is over $100 million. With less people eager to go to the movie theaters after a pandemic and the boom of streaming, the studios are likely worried that a Western won’t play to audiences who are already shunning Marvel movies and action films.
Anyone with deep pockets is likely to wait and see how Costner’s first two films do before plunking down their money for the final parts of his franchise. The good news is that the cast is stacked with familiar names and faces, including Sam Worthington, Giovanni Ribisi, Luke Wilson, and Sienna Miller. Costner also has a solid track record with his 1990 Dances With Wolves
If Horizons turns out to be a colossal failure, Costner might have regrets for turning his attention to the films instead of another lucrative season on Yellowstone. The successful Paramount+ series is credited with giving his career a major boost, so fans were quite disappointed to hear that he wouldn’t be finishing off his character’s storyline. Horizons might be another fascinating chapter in Costner’s career after making headlines for his contentious divorce from Christine Baumgartner last year, his squabble with Yellowstone creator Taylor Sheridan, and his blossoming romance with Jewel. We can hardly keep up!