Horizon: An American Saga – Chapter 2‘s premiere comes a couple of months after the Yellowstone series finale, and it might help those disappointed with John Dutton III’s ending in the Taylor Sheridan TV show. Kevin Costner exited the neo-Western drama series following season 5, part 1’s finale, shocking many. As a result, the actor wasn’t around to give his character the closure he desperately needed and deserved during season 5, part 2, which served as Yellowstone‘s conclusion (although its universe will live on in several spinoffs and prequels).

There were many reasons behind Costner’s Yellowstone exit, with one relating to the show’s schedule. Filming the neo-Western drama took a long time, and Costner wanted to condense production on the Paramount Network series to focus more on the Horizon: An American Saga movies. Ultimately, the two parties weren’t able to come to an agreement. Costner left Yellowstone, devoting most of his time to his epic Western film franchise, while Sheridan and co. were forced to end the TV show without their lead character.

Why John Dutton’s Yellowstone Fate Caused A Backlash

Kevin Costner’s Character Was M*rdered

During the Yellowstone season 5, part 2 premiere, viewers learned that John supposedly died by s*icide in the middle of the night at the Governor’s mansion. However, Beth and Jamie were hesitant to believe that story, and their intuition was right. Sarah Atwood hired assassins to m*rder John and make it look like a s*icide. In later episodes, Jamie proved his father was k*lled, and the Duttons (and the ranch hands, Chief Thomas Rainwater, and Lynelle Perry) buried him in their family’s graveyard, next to his ancestors and son. Unfortunately, many were unhappy with this ending for John.

Some viewers were upset about how abruptly Yellowstone k*lled off John. After being the face of the series since the beginning, they thought Kevin Costner’s character deserved a better sendoff. Given John’s legacy in Yellowstone, viewers felt disappointed that his (and the show’s) ending was so anticlimactic, wishing that his death was more grand or impactful, instead of just being the catalyst to the other characters’ central dilemma of losing the ranch. Unfortunately, there’s no going back for Yellowstone. However, there is a way for Costner to move forward.

Horizon: Part 2 (& Beyond) Can Be The Complete Western Story Costner Didn’t Get With Yellowstone

The Horizon Film Series Is Set To Have 4 Parts

Whereas Kevin Costner didn’t get to properly close out his character’s arc in Yellowstone, he can bring the Horizon: An American Saga film series to a complete end. Costner has been developing his epic western for over 30 years and is determined to tell its full story. Horizon: An American Saga – Chapter 1 premiered in June 2024, while Horizon: An American Saga – Chapter 2 is set for a theatrical release starting on an unknown date. After that, Costner has two more movies in the works, with Horizon: An American Saga – Chapter 4 intended to be the last installment in the series.

Horizon: An American Saga is all the more exciting and promising because not only is it a Western saga that Costner is directing and co-writing, but he is also playing the lead, Hayes Ellison. So, Costner has complete control over the franchise’s story and his character’s full journey, including his ending. He can make it much more satisfying than John Dutton’s conclusion. Unfortunately, bringing Horizon: An American Saga full circle with a fourth movie might not be possible as the film series’ fate is up in the air.

The Biggest Obstacle To Horizon Is Its Release – And It’s Getting Closer To Overcoming It

Chapter 1 Was A Box Office Failure

Horizon: An American Saga – Chapter 1 was released on June 28, 2024, and ultimately bombed at the box office. The movie only grossed $38.7 million against a $50 million budget ($38 million of which Kevin Costner personally funded, per Variety). Chapter 1 also received mixed reviews from critics. Consequently, Chapter 2‘s premiere was delayed.

Kevin Costner Premieres ‘Horizon: Chapter 2’ in Santa Barbara

Kevin Costner presented the U.S. premiere of “Horizon: An American Saga – Chapter 2” at the Santa Barbara Film Festival Friday night, but Costner didn’t give any updates on what’s happening with the Western series. However, the second chapter concludes with a lengthy preview of “Chapter 3.”

Costner wasn’t asked about his plans for the rest of the saga during the Q&A, but he said, “I started this in 1988. I couldn’t make it then and it didn’t seem like anybody liked it too much, so I thought ‘Fuck it, I’m going to write four more.’”

The “Yellowstone” star and “Dances With Wolves” best director winner financed parts one and two of the saga largely with his own funds, only to find a muted reception from critics and audiences for the first 3-hour installment of the sprawling story.

Costner thanked Durling and the festival, who he said has long supported the project. “This is where I make my home and you made me feel like a giant tonight,” Costner said.

“Chapter 2” is set to be released in theaters in Germany April 3, according to IMDB, but there are no plans yet for a U.S. release. In addition to director-star Costner, it co-stars Sienna Miller, Sam Worthington, Giovanni Ribisi, Danny Huston and Jena Malone.

“Horizon Chapter 2” premiered at the Venice Film Festival back in September, where Variety critic Jessica Kiang wrote, “It has its stirring, majestic set pieces, such as a wagon burning or a barn-dance gunfight, and, courtesy especially of J. Michael Muro’s grand cinematography, lots of gorgeously epic shots of the wagon train wending across bright, arid plains or the settlement that will, we imagine, become ‘Horizon,’ gradually springing up from the dirt.”