Kevin Costner's CAD 136M gamble - The making of "Horizon: Chapter One"

Legends are circulating about how much Kevin Costner invested in "Horizon." According to the first rumours, it was CAD 33 million; now it is said to be CAD 52 million, which must have vanished from the star’s account for the project. The film supposedly cost CAD 137 million, the first of several that the "Yellowstone" star wants to show to the audience. Costner recently decided to leave the aforementioned series, entered into a conflict with its creators, and began working on his film, which tells the story of the first settlers who came from Europe to North America and how they encroached on the land of the Indigenous people, leading to bloody events.

Costner is taking no prisoners. Right at the beginning of "Horizon: Chapter One," he serves viewers a brutal massacre. Members of the Apache tribe attack a white settlement, leading to the extermination of almost the entire community. Explosions, houses in flames, bloody massacres, and a mother with a child fleeing through an underground tunnel to avoid certain death—that’s how the first minutes of the film unfold.

"I'm not pretending to be a Native American. I'll never forget that the Indigenous peoples became an inconvenience. How did it happen on their own land? They had to fight for their lives. They had to fight to protect their way of life, their children, their religion, and we cannot forget that. Our fingerprints are everywhere on this story," Kevin Costner told us at a conference just before the film's premiere.

"We don’t have to be ashamed. We have to appreciate the beauty of the culture of the people who lived here in harmony before us. Before we dug the first shovel into their land. That will always be part of our history. But I think what you’ll see in theatres will be magic for you. It's the kind of film I wish someone had made for me earlier. I'm grateful that it's finally here," said the actor, director, and producer of "Horizon."

The actor repeatedly emphasized during the conference that he is moved and that "Horizon" is his life's work. The story of the first American settlers and their wars with Indigenous peoples was so important to him that he speaks reverently about what they managed to film. "The West is not some land in Disneyland. It's real life," the actor says.

Without a good crew of actors, it wouldn’t have been possible. "Dances with Wolves" was shot in 116 days, "Wyatt Earp" in about 113 days. We made our film in 52 days. These actors never failed. They are great, though peculiar people. Their talent never dimmed. They showed up on set even when the thermometers showed 43°C," recalls Costner and notes that the first pillar of the film’s cast became Sienna Miller.

Sienna Miller plays Frances Kittredge. In the first several minutes of the film, she must flee from the massacre on the white settlers. "My character is incredibly brave and enduring, but in this nightmare, she thinks clearly about finding a compromise between her daughter's needs and her own. She has to be fierce at this moment in her life. So, playing this role was exciting. And when Kevin Costner calls you and asks if you’ll come to play in a western, you hang up and run," says the star.

"No one knew how dangerous a journey they were signing up for," Sienna Miller talks about the characters of "Horizon," the first European settlers. "I don’t think they knew what they were in for, but once you take such a step, there’s no turning back. They came here and had to spend months on the road with children, pregnant women, and livestock in heat and drought. I have immense respect for all those people who made it," the actress says.

Costner also talks about this: "They came here for something they didn’t have in Europe. They were looking for their paradise, some promised place that would give them a new life. They didn’t realize, however, that a community had been flourishing on this land for centuries. Two nations came into conflict with each other because of this, and our story shows what happened."

The cast of "Horizon" includes actors from various Indigenous tribes. Leading the way are Owen Crow Shoe as Pionsenay, Tatanka Means playing Taklishima, and the hypnotizing Wase Chief as Liluye. All the actors playing Indigenous people had lessons on accurately using the Apache language. "This brings us true pride. It’s not only important for the Apaches but for all descendants of Native Americans who can now see people speaking their language in a major production. I remember how proud I felt when in 'Dances with Wolves,' they spoke the Lakota language fluently," recalls Tatanka Means.

"We tried very hard to perform well. I'm happy we made such a film. Kevin initially asked for hard work and being prepared. And we were," he adds.

The premiere of "Horizon: Chapter One" took place at the Cannes festival. There, let’s recall, the creators were rewarded with applause that lasted a good 10 minutes. As Costner recalls today, he was overwhelmed. For a moment, he couldn’t hear anything and didn’t realize what was happening. In the event photos, you can see tears welling up in his eyes, showing how important this film is to him. It’s his opus magnum. But will it bring him box office success?