{"id":33212,"date":"2024-03-06T11:24:41","date_gmt":"2024-03-06T16:24:41","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.beliefnet.com\/columnists\/idolchatter\/?p=33212"},"modified":"2024-03-06T11:24:41","modified_gmt":"2024-03-06T16:24:41","slug":"kevin-costner-grateful-god-allowed-him-to-make-horizon-despite-personal-risks","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.beliefnet.com\/columnists\/idolchatter\/2024\/03\/kevin-costner-grateful-god-allowed-him-to-make-horizon-despite-personal-risks.html","title":{"rendered":"Kevin Costner Grateful ‘God Allowed’ Him to Make ‘Horizon’ Despite Personal Risks"},"content":{"rendered":"
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Kevin Costner bet everything on the box office with his latest feature film, \u201cHorizon: An American Saga.\u201d He recently released the first trailer for the four-part, post-Civil War drama and showcased the Wild West frontier his name has become synonymous with for years, dating back to his first directional stint on \u201cDances with Wolves.\u201d<\/p>\n

He shared his gratitude to God for allowing him even to make the first two films during a Zoom panel. Costner said, \u201cI\u2019m terribly satisfied in my own life that God allowed me to get these first two done. I mean, if I\u2019m hit by lightning, who knows what happens? At least I went West.\u201d The first part of the Western saga debuts in theaters on Friday, June 28, while the second part of the drama will be released 49 days later, on Friday, Aug. 16.<\/p>\n

Brand expert Doug Eldridge believes \u201cHorizon\u201d will do \u201cunbelievably well\u201d and that Costner is \u201csmart to seize on the opening\u201d to fill the void left behind from his\u00a0\u201cYellowstone\u201d departure. Eldridge said, \u201cEvery story has two sides, and Costner is undertaking a genuine effort to represent both elements of history, backstopped with a deep, A-list cast and a renewed national hunger for patriotic, Western cinema. His timing, tone and assembled talent couldn\u2019t be better. Prepare for a massive hit.\u201d<\/p>\n

In addition to starring in the feature film, Costner also directed \u201cHorizon\u201d based on a script he co-wrote with John Baird. The film came with a hefty price tag, though, and set Costner back more than $20 million in out-of-pocket expenses, which came to light in court documents after his ex-wife, Christine Baumgartner,\u00a0filed for divorce in May\u00a0after 18 years of marriage. Baumgartner\u2019s legal team explained how Costner expected to receive a \u201cwaterfall\u201d of funds from \u201cHorizon\u201d after his initial investments, according to documents obtained by Fox News Digital.<\/p>\n

The docs stated, \u201cKevin\u2019s total compensation for acting, producing, and directing in Horizon 1 is approximately $12,000,000, and for Horizon 2 is approximately $12,000,000, most of which he voluntarily deferred. Kevin estimates that this money will \u2018waterfall\u2019 back to him starting in late next year. Kevin also has a profit participation in Horizon 1 and 2, which is yet another source of income.\u201d Costner mortgaged his $50 million oceanfront Santa Barbara property to ensure proper funding for the project, Deadline reported.<\/p>\n