Kevin Costner’s New Western Movie Continues An Exciting Release Trend For Warner Bros.

Horizon: An America Saga, Kevin Costner’s upcoming Western movie, continues an exciting release trend for Warner Bros. Hot on the heels of Costner’s contentious departure from Taylor Sheridan’s Yellowstone, the acclaimed actor is returning to his passion for writing and directing films with an epic scope. Notably, Costner starred in and directed 1990’s Dances with Wolves, an epic Western that earned him two Academy Awards. Since then, Costner has had other successful behind-the-camera moments, but few of his projects have felt as ambitious as the two-part Horizon saga.

The Emmy and Golden Globe Award-winning actor also penned and produced the new Western, making it the epitome of the term “passion project.” Set during the American Civil War and the United States’ expansion westward, Horizon Chapter 1 is set to hit theaters on June 28, 2024. Perhaps surprisingly, viewers won’t have to wait years for the second installment in Costner’s Horizon saga. Horizon Chapter 2 hits theaters on August 16, 2024 — just a handful of weeks after the first entry. However, the two-parter’s theatrical premiere dates aren’t the only exciting part of Horizon‘s release strategy.

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Horizon: An American Saga Is Warner Bros.’ Second Multi-Part Epic After Dune

When it was confirmed that the John Dutton actor would exit Yellowstone ahead of the series finale, viewers began to wonder just how many Horizon movies Kevin Costner was making. Of course, the multi-talented Hollywood star’s commitment to his original project wasn’t the only factor in his decision to leave Yellowstone, but, given the scope, it likely played some part. While Costner isn’t straying too far from Yellowstone‘s genre of choice, Horizon‘s release strategy echoes that of another Warner Bros. property — though one set in a drastically different genre: science fiction.

Directed by Denis Villeneuve, the Dune saga, which is composed of 2021’s Dune: Part One and 2024’s Dune: Part Two, is another multipart epic. While Dune‘s first installment signaled the much-needed return of the blockbuster epic, Dune 2 is an all-time sci-fi masterpiece. Part of the second entry’s glowing reviews stems from the fact that it pays off the first film’s intricate setup. In an epic saga, the films must work together to tell a cohesive, overarching story. While other blockbuster franchises adapted from novels have split movies into several parts, Dune‘s approach is much more intentional.

Kevin Costner’s New Western Movie Marks An Exciting Warner Bros. Trend

Since Dune adapts the first novel in Frank Herbert’s classic franchise, it already has a built-in fan base. Between all the readers of the 1965 sci-fi epic and viewers who want to see Hollywood’s next big movie, Dune is an easy sell. Costner might be an Oscar-winning household name, but Horizon being an original project does make it a trickier prospect for Warner Bros. Clearly, Costner’s impressive track record with Westerns, from Dances with Wolves to Yellowstone, did the writer-director a lot of favors. Regardless, Costner’s two-part Western turns Dune‘s release strategy into a trend.

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Warner Bros. Could Green-Light More Epics If Horizon Is As Successful As Dune

While Dune had a few years built-in between releases, Horizon‘s entries hit theaters a few weeks apart. While the multipart saga has less time to build momentum, the clever release strategy could turn Horizon into 2024’s “Barbenhemier“ with viewers flocking to cinemas for the limited-run event. Already, Costner has addressed hopes for three Horizon sequels. If the two-part film saga becomes a box-office hit, it could launch a new franchise — something that’s next to unheard of for original IP in Hollywood.

Thanks in part to Yellowstone‘s revitalization of the Western genre, audiences seem excited about Kevin Costner’s Horizon. That bodes well not just for the movie’s box office odds, but for the franchise to land sequels and spin-offs. In a bigger picture sense, Horizon’s success could also encourage other studios to green-light more multipart epics. For now, Dune seems like an exception, but the success — both critically and financially — of Horizon could turn the trend into a new rule of thumb.