Warning: MAJOR SPOILERS ahead for Horizon: An American Saga – Chapter 1!

Kevin Costner has explained the ending of Horizon: An American Saga – Chapter 1 and how it impacts Chapter 2, hinting at what’s next for the ensemble cast of characters. The Western epic takes place in a variety of locations during American expansion Westward, following multiple characters and plot threads in the process. Horizon: An American Saga‘s cast are in different positions by the end of the film than at the start, their stories set to continue in the forthcoming sequels.

Speaking with Screen Rant, Costner – who wrote, directed, produced, and starred in the movie – explained how Horizon: An American Saga – Chapter 1‘s ending sets the stage for Chapter 2. The creator discussed how the characters’ lives are going to grow more difficult over time, saying that, while there will be more action from his Hayes Ellison soon, the story must come first. Check out what Costner had to say below:

Yeah, I didn’t want to create a cliffhanger, because I just think that’s not the right thing. What happens is 2’s done, I just saw it, and it’s harder. It gets harder for these people, it doesn’t get easier. This is a 200-year march across the country, 300 years, and people did it in inches. So, I take my time, and I do it through the story of these people. So, I’m going to get to my gunfight, but not at the expense of story, which I think can be just as compelling, so it’s important to me.

What Will Happen In Horizon: An American Saga – Chapter 2?

Horizon Is Costner’s Biggest Project Ever

Horizon: An American Saga – Chapter 1 ended with its core characters in a variety of new places. For instance, Hayes ends up on his own after Marigold leaves, while Frances (Sienna Miller) and Lizzie (Georgia MacPhail) are settling down within a Union town thanks to help from Trent Gepardt (Sam Worthington). Meanwhile, the mystery of an alleged town called Horizon teases its way into the lives of many characters out West, hinting at a grander story that will somehow bring everyone together in the future.

While Horizon: An American Saga – Chapter 2‘s story is mostly a mystery, a montage at the end of Chapter 1 signals plenty of gunfights, drama, and decisions the film’s many characters will be involved with. Now that the first movie has established the setting and main cast, its follow-up has a chance to dig deeper into their lives as American expansion continues. This could include everything from the harsh brutality of Western movement to more focus on the Civil War and its impact at the time.

Since there are going to be four installments of Horizon: An American Saga, the next movie likely won’t answer every question from the first, nor will it conclude many plotlines set up thus far. Costner has been developing this story since 1988, meaning his full vision for the story won’t be fully realized until every part of the Western film has been released. However, his words about the end of Chapter 1 and the start of Chapter 2 highlight just how much evolution the characters will go through as their stories march on.