Twenty years after his last appearance on the Croisette, Kevin Costner will present his fourth film as a filmmaker: Horizon, An American Saga, in world premiere, out of competition, at the 77th Cannes Film Festival (May 14-25), it has been announced organizers. After the success of the Yellowstone series, on Paramount, the American is betting on conquering the public again with a western.
“Horizon, An American Saga is a story that began 35 years ago and I could not dream of a better place than the Cannes Film Festival to reveal to the world the result of such a beautiful adventure,” commented the actor and director.
The latter has not come to the Croisette “for 20 years”, he recalls. “I waited for the right moment and I am proud to say that this moment has come.” Horizon, An American Saga is described by the festival organizers as “an ambitious project on the cost of wars and violence in the construction and expansion of the United States of America”.
Carried by Kevin Costner himself, as well as Sienna Miller, Sam Worthington and Jena Malone, this saga planned in four parts whose releases will be spread over several months. The actor and director, aged 69, has already tried his hand at the western genre with the classic Dances with Wolves (1990), in which he plays a Civil War soldier close to a Sioux tribe. This work won seven Oscars, including best film.
Horizon, An American Saga is set in the same historical period: “Over a period of 15 years before and after the Civil War. Expansion to the West is fraught with challenges, from natural elements to interactions with the indigenous peoples who lived on these lands to the ruthless determination of those who sought to colonize them…” according to the film’s synopsis. With a budget of 100 million dollars, the actor financed part of the project himself to the tune of 50 million dollars.
The announcement of the official selection for this 77th Cannes edition, under the presidency of Greta Gerwig, director of Barbie, is expected on Thursday April 11.