Summary

• Kevin Costner's upcoming film, Horizon: An American Saga, will stand out by avoiding a direct Civil War connection.
• Costner's CinemaCon 2024 announcement revealed his Summer blockbuster's differences to Dances with Wolves.
• With Horizon set to explore the era surrounding the Civil War without focusing on it, suggesting a unique epic.

Kevin Costner has revealed that his upcoming film, Horizon: An American Saga, won't have a Civil War connection, differentiating it from his previous Western masterpiece. Costner's Western epic is set to release in theaters on June 28, 2024, with a sequel following it up almost immediately on August 16. Horizon has been Costner's passion project for decades, with the concept forming early in his career. Finally, over thirty years later, two movies are underway, though he plans to expand them with additional Horizon movies if they're successful.

The forthcoming Summer blockbuster is directed by, and stars Costner and details were shared about the film at CinemaCon 2024. Kevin Costner has invested his own money into the project, and he's shown an evident dedication to them, even controversially exiting his role on Yellowstone before the final season to focus on the films instead. Trailers for the film have shown glimpses of a sprawling Western epic, an ensemble cast of characters, action-packed adventure, and more, though Costner's recent comments have finally offered clarity on some plot details.

Kevin Costner Separating His Horizon Movies From The Civil War Helps Avoid Dances With Wolves Comparisons

Horizon's Distinctions From Dances With Wolves Give The Kevin Costner Western An Originality Appeal

Kevin Costner's directorial debut, the Best Picture-winning Western Dances with Wolves, centers around a Civil War backdrop. Conversely, Horizon will occur during the same era but primarily avoid the Civil War. At CinemaCon, it was explained that the setting was "Starting before the Civil War and continuing through it, but doesn't deal directly with the Civil War." This is excellent news, implying his new Western will offer a fresh perspective. Dances with Wolves is one of Costner's crowning achievements, but much of the appeal for Horizon will be that it's a fresh story.

Horizon is an incredibly risky move for Costner, sacrificing a role on Yellowstone that's offered him unprecedented stardom for an actor his age. Not to mention his extensive personal financial investment, which puts a lot of faith in audiences heading to the theaters. However, 2024 may be the best year in a long time for such a risk, as the success of Barbie and Oppenheimer has shown an audience desire for well-constructed, original storytelling. With that in mind, Horizon having as much narrative distinction as possible is promising.

How The Civil War Still Plays A Role In Horizon's Western Saga

Even If Horizon Isn't A Civil War Movie, The Impact Will Be Felt

It's almost impossible to make a film set in America during the Civil War without recognizing its impact. Horizon will be set in the Frontiersman West, focusing more on westward expansion than war primarily in the East, but the film's first trailer showed glimpses of men in uniform. The epic likely won't depict any battles like The Good, the Bad and the Ugly, but the impact of the bloody war will surely be felt in Horizon: An American Saga.