Costner Puts It All on the Line: Home, Money, and Reputation
Hollywood legend Kevin Costner is no stranger to taking big leaps of faith when it comes to his projects. Yet, his upcoming Western epic, “Horizon: An American Saga,” promises to be his most audacious venture yet. He’s not just acting or directing; he’s also co-writing, producing, and—brace yourselves—pouring his own millions into it. Even going as far as mortgaging his own home to fund the movie, Costner seems to have thrown caution to the wind. The question remains: Will this gamble be his crowning glory or his most infamous flop?
“I believe in the idea and the story,” Costner has said in interviews (via CNBC).
A History of Hits and Misses
Costner has earned a mixed track record when it comes to self-financing his films. Following his break in the 1980s with hits like “Field of Dreams” and “Bull Durham,” he ventured into the world of producing. Starting with 1990’s “Revenge,” which was an unmitigated disaster, to the Oscar-winning “Dances with Wolves,” Costner’s producing ventures have been a rollercoaster ride of hits and misses.
“I’m not a very good businessman,” Costner admitted.
Among the other films that he at least partially financed are “Robin Hood: Prince of Thieves,” “Wyatt Earp,” “Waterworld,” “The Postman,” “Message in a Bottle,” “Thirteen Days,” “Open Range,” “Mr. Brooks,” “Swing Vote,” and “Let Him Go.” While some films like “Dances with Wolves” and “The Bodyguard” have been major successes, most others, unfortunately, did not hit the mark.
Horizon—The Mother of All Gambles
Unlike his past projects, “Horizon: An American Saga” isn’t just another film for Costner. This two-part saga has a ballooning budget of $100 million. Mortgaging his $28.5 million California home, the actor-turned-director isn’t holding back.
This comes on the heels of Costner raising a reported $50 million for the project and deferring his own writing, producing, and acting fees in order to get the two-part saga made.
Will ‘Horizon’ Break Costner’s Mixed Streak?
While Costner’s previous Westerns like “Dances with Wolves” and even the less successful “Open Range” might offer some insights into what to expect from “Horizon,” it’s still a toss-up. The film, set across both the pre- and post-American Civil War period, explores the expansion of white settlers into the West. Given that Costner’s reputation in Western dramas is pretty strong, one could argue that the gamble on “Horizon” has a good chance of paying off.
Costner has publicly stated he’ll never do a project on Horizon’s scale (and budget) again.
It has taken Costner 35 years to bring “Horizon” to life. Now, all eyes are on him to see if this mega gamble will soar to new heights or fall flat. With his mixed record and the high stakes involved, only time will tell. But one thing is for sure: whether “Horizon: An American Saga” becomes a masterpiece or a cautionary tale, it’s going to be one for the books.
