Actor and director Kevin Costner has been working on his upcoming film, "Horizon: An American Saga," for nearly three decades. The epic Western, which will premiere at the Cannes Film Festival, explores the complexities of Manifest Destiny and the role of women in the development of the United States.
Kevin Costner's passion for filmmaking, particularly in the Western genre, has led him to create "Horizon: An American Saga," a four-part post-Civil War drama that will debut at the Cannes Film Festival on May 19. The film, which Costner has been working on for nearly 30 years, showcases his deep admiration for the American West and its rich history.
"I don't know if passion's the right word," Costner told Entertainment Weekly. "I just don't fall out of love with things I like. I am always looking for the next great movie."
Costner's enthusiasm for the film stems from his fascination with the American West. "This is not a last stab at keeping this genre alive," he said. "This genre will live forever if people take it seriously."
He added, "I don't want to be the person who's setting the record straight or 'Oh, here comes the history lesson.' That's not me. But women are dominant in my film. I want to highlight what their contributions were. Without women, the West dies. It never happens. This country doesn't happen. They have a place in these stories."
"Horizon: An American Saga" takes place in the post-Civil War era and explores the complexities of Manifest Destiny and its impact on the Native American population. Costner insists that there is a responsibility in storytelling to address these darker themes.
"You can't tell the story unless you bump into that. You can't talk about anything without understanding who was here before us," he said. "Our national appetite ran over culture after culture, with a high level of genocide. The people that were here for thousands of years were suddenly an inconvenience in their own land, and we should never forget that.
"The conflict was unfair. It was one-sided. If it was a sporting event, somebody would've thrown the f---ing flag and said, 'This is unacceptable,' but we did it, and we did it across the whole country. I never am going to forget what our participation has been in settling America, and I'm not so embarrassed about it that I won't talk about it."
In addition to starring in the film, Costner also directed "Horizon," 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. However, this is not the first time Costner has funded a film himself. He previously put up his own money for "Dances with Wolves," "The Postman," and "Black or White."
The first part of "Horizon: An American 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. Costner is eager to share the story of the American West with audiences and hopes that it will inspire them to reflect on the nation's history.
