MOVIE NEWS – Horizon: An American Saga is Kevin Costner’s biggest film venture to date.

Warner Bros. premiered new footage from Kevin Costner’s two-part western epic Horizon: An American Saga at CinemaCon. The films are set in the mid-1800s and chronicle the United States’ westward expansion.

Kevin Costner revealed that the narrative spans 12 years and follows the trials and triumphs of a diverse cast.

The cast also includes Danny Huston as a Union military leader, Michael Rooker, Sam Worthington, and Luke Wilson.

According to Variety, the new footage emphasizes the monumental dimensions of “Horizon.” Costner undertook to create a large-scale saga that unfolded over a decade. As he previously directed such acclaimed westerns as Dances with Wolves and Outer Range, he is no stranger to the genre.

“Horizon” has been his passion project since the late ’80s and promises to be a profoundly personal story he’s long wanted to bring to the big screen.

The film’s official synopsis reads:

“In the great tradition of Warner Bros. Pictures’ iconic Westerns, “Horizon: An American Saga” explores the lure of the Old West and how it was won – and lost – through the blood, sweat and tears of many. Spanning the four years of the Civil War, from 1861 to 1865, Costner’s ambitious cinematic adventure will take audiences on an emotional journey across a country at war with itself, experienced through the lens of families, friends and foes all attempting to discover what it truly means to be the United States of America.”

Kevin Costner’s epic vision of the multi-parter Horizon: An American Saga

Horizon: An American Saga is Costner’s largest project to date. Originally planned as a single film in 1988, it grew into a multi-part saga. Costner takes on several roles, the star, director, writer and producer of films.

While the first two chapters already have confirmed release dates, Costner has expressed his desire to expand the saga to four films.

During the recent divorce proceedings, court documents surfaced that Costner invested about $20 million in the production budget. “I’ve mortgaged 10 acres on the water in Santa Barbara where I was going to build my last house … But I did it without a thought. It has thrown my accountant into a f**king conniption fit. But it’s my life, and I believe in the idea and the story,” Costner said.

Source: Variety