Key Takeaways:
– Kevin Costner's historical epic ‘Horizon: An American Saga' did not fare well at the box office.
– The making of its second chapter has been indefinitely postponed.
– Costner's previous Western movie ‘Wyatt Earp' also bombed, not long after the successful release of Val Kilmer's ‘Tombstone.'
Stumbling Along Wyatt Earp's Trail
Actor Kevin Costner is perhaps in a contemplative state after his ambitious project – ‘Horizon: An American Saga' didn't impress the box office. But this is not the first time Costner has been in this situation. He saw a similar scenario years ago when his Western movie, ‘Wyatt Earp,' released six months after Val Kilmer's successful ‘Tombstone.'
Val Kilmer nailed it as Doc Holliday in ‘Tombstone,' a 1993 film that reverberates with real-life events from the infamous OK Corral Gunfight. His performance, alongside Kurt Russell and Sam Elliott's, was highly acclaimed and became one of Kilmer's best roles to date.
Sharing Historical Space with ‘Tombstone'
The success and timing of ‘Tombstone' presented a challenging background for Costner's ‘Wyatt Earp,' also based on the same lawman Wyatt Earp. It released six months after ‘Tombstone' and did not find similar favor at the box office. With an underwhelming $56 million against a budget of $63 million, it earned the tag of a box office bomb.
Costner admitted that timing the screening of his film after ‘Tombstone' was not the best decision. He told GQ how he hated the unintended competition between the two movies and regretted not postponing ‘Wyatt Earp.' His regret also stemmed from the fact that he was a producer on ‘Wyatt Earp,' which amplified the sense of loss.
‘Horizon:' Painting a Perilous Future
Amid several box office disappointments in his career, ‘Horizon: An American Saga' made headlines with its visionary scale and Costner's personal investments. Unluckily, the first chapter of this saga missed the mark in its June release, akin to a box office bomb.
Despite plans for releasing the second chapter in August, New Line Cinema decided to postpone it indefinitely. Their objective was to encourage audiences to appreciate the first chapter more before introducing the next. But with a weak initial response and earnings of just $32 million against a $50 million budget, the prospect looks grim.
Nevertheless, Costner is not ready to discontinue the journey and appears determined to bring the third chapter of his ambitious saga to life.
For those interested to revisit or discover the stories that led to Costner's regrettably timed release of ‘Wyatt Earp,' both ‘Tombstone' and ‘Wyatt Earp' are available for streaming on Apple TV.
In conclusion, even veterans like Kevin Costner have their fair share of failures and regrettable decisions. They're part of the filmmaking journey. But whether it's the dusty adventures of Wyatt Earp or the grand ambitions of ‘Horizon: An American Saga,' Costner remains a dedicated actor and producer who passionately brings stories to life, regardless of the outcome.
