Kevin Costner talks about the difficulty in funding his third installment of the western saga, ‘Horizon’, says ‘I’ve knocked on every yacht to help’

Kevin Costner's inaugural installment of the saga, "Horizon," is slated to premiere in theaters on June 28, followed by the sequel on August 16. (Images via X)

Kevin Costner is a living legend in the realms of the Hollywood industry. The actor has starred in blockbuster hits one after the other. Awards? Primetime Emmys, SAG’s, Academy awards, Costner has got them all. But what cemented him as a real Hollywood icon was his directorial debut, “Dancing With Wolves,” (1990) which went on to win 7 Oscars out of the 12 nominations it received.

This year Kevin has returned with his latest western/drama (a genre akin to Costner), Horizon: An American Saga. The feature premiered at the 2024 Cannes Film Festival which received a staggering 7 minute standing ovation.

At the premiere, Costner said in his speech that it wouldn’t be the last time audiences would see him play ‘Hayes Ellison,’ in fact he is yet to return in three more installments of the saga with its sequel due this August. The wildly desirable cowboy directed, starred and produced the cowritten film.

But the production however, proved to be quite hard to source for the actor. Costner procured funding for his $100 million-plus western feature by digging into his own pockets, which meant mortgaging his ranch.

“You saw the movie. I don’t know why it was so hard to get people to believe in the movie that I wanted to make. You know, I don’t think my movie is better than anybody else’s movie, but I don’t think anybody else’s movie is better than mine. I don’t go out into the world with something I don’t think is good,” said Costner when asked about the struggles in financing the film at a Cannes Film Festival press conference.

With the second part due in August, Costner is currently trying to pool in capital for his third installment of his four-part-saga. “I’ve knocked on every yacht to help,” said Costner. “Oh come on, I have a picture. Come get your checkbook out. Let’s talk money!”

The western drama offers a distinctive perspective on the growth of the American west, unfolding in two parts. It delves into the experiences of cattle ranchers, farmers, and soldiers shaping their destinies in the region, while also honoring the narratives of the Indigenous peoples who inhabited the land long before.

Kevin Costner’s first part of the saga, “Horizon” will hit theaters this June 28 with the sequel releasing on August 16. The film’s ensemble consists of Sienna Miller, Sam Worthington, Giovanni Ribisi, Jena Malone, Abbey Lee, Michael Rooker, and more.