The second part of Kevin Costner鈥檚 鈥淗orizon: An American Saga鈥� will have its world premiere at the in September, organizers said Wednesday. 鈥淐hapter Two鈥� was originally set for a mid-August theatrical debut but was after 鈥淐hapter One鈥� underperformed.
The continuation of the Western epic will play out of competition on September 7, the last day of the festival, alongside a screening of part one. Costner, in a statement, said that his 鈥渄ream鈥� was always to show the film at Venice. The first installment had a glitzy premiere at the Cannes Film Festival earlier this year.
Alberto Barbera, the director of the Venice Film Festival, described it as the 鈥渧isionary project of a great actor and director, who invested himself in the epic reconstruction of the years crucial to the founding of the country, digging beyond myth in search of authenticity capable of restoring a piece of history in its complex and contradictory reality.鈥�
The back-to-back release for both films, one in June and one in August, was unconventional. Then the first chapter collected only $23 million in its first two weeks in theaters. In announcing the change of plans, New Line Cinema said they hoped to give more audiences more time to discover Chapter One.
A passion project for more than 30 years, Costner put some of his own money into making the ambitious films, and has already begun shooting a third installment of what he envisions will
鈥淚鈥檓 indebted to Alberto Barbera for his courage and leadership in committing to this cinematic journey,鈥� Costner said. 鈥淟ong live the movies and those willing to stand for them.鈥�
The 81st edition of the Venice Film Festival kicks off on Aug. 28. Among its most anticipated world premieres are 鈥淛oker: Folie 脿 Deux,鈥� 鈥淏eetlejuice Beetlejuice,鈥� 鈥淭he Room Next Door,鈥� 鈥淢aria,鈥� 鈥淨ueer鈥� and 鈥淲olfs.鈥�
Lindsey Bahr, The Associated Press
