‘Horizon: An American Saga’ Creator Kevin Costner Stands By Decision To Tell Western Settler Story: “A Great Injustice Occurred In The West, But It Doesn’t Minimize The Courage It Took For My Ancestors To Cut Loose And Go There”
While many Hollywood creatives would likely err away from any project centered on the topic out of fear that they would be labeled as some form of racist or bigot, Kevin Costner has made it clear that he is unashamed over his decision to focus his upcoming film Horizon: An American Saga on the historical conflicts that occurred between white settlers and Native Americans.
A two-part Western epic co-written (in partnership with Tetris director Jon Baird), produced, directed by, and starring Costner, Horizon will reportedly follow the 15-year-long stories of various white settlers – some decent folk, some less so – as they attempt to strike out on their own in the American frontier following the conclusion of the Civil War.
And though the accurate depiction of such a story requires Costner to touch upon the very real conflicts that took place between the manifest destiny-driven settlers and the Native Americans people who already occupied their desired land, Costner is refusing to let this bleak part of American history dissuade him from his goal of bringing to life the very real struggles the former group faced in their journeys.
“I’m ashamed of what happened — I don’t know that I’m ashamed or embarrassed — but I want to project what really happened,” the actor told The Hollywood Reporter‘s James Hibberd following the February 2024 premiere of Horizon‘s first trailer.”There was a great injustice occurred in the West, but it doesn’t minimize the courage it took for my ancestors to cut loose and go there. And I recognized the resourcefulness it took and the bravery it took to leave and make this march across this country.”
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“It’s just a movie that shows the class of cultures,” he added. “It’s our history. I love it. I can enjoy watching a movie like this if I feel like I can see myself in it, and I tried really hard for that to happen.”
To this end, Costner argued that while many may be quick to condemn his decision to center the settlers as the film’s protagonists, colonist violence and all, those who did so would be doing a disservice – and a particularly judgemental one – to the historical realities of that era.
“I think it’s really a mistake to judge other people how they had to perform or act in another century,” said the Yellowstone star. “We kind of apply our own sensibilities where we live a life today where, when we’re offended, we have to get a lawyer or agent or publicity person — somebody to arbitrate our problems. Back then, you had to arbitrate your problems by yourself — which was terribly dramatic, especially if you’re dealing with a sociopath.”
“You have to understand we were coming out of that terrible Civil War,” the actor continued. “And if anyone believes in post-traumatic stress, there was only about 30 million people in America at the time and that war went on for four years. We lost 56,000 men in Vietnam. We lost 600,000 in the Civil War. People came West, sometimes with a lot of hope, bringing their family, and others came West because they were damaged and were running away from something.”
“The [concept of the] stranger was a boogyman,” Costner added. “If you were a stranger 120 years ago, people were afraid of you because they didn’t know if that was really your name or what you’d really done. Like the trailer says, if you were strong enough, if they were mean enough, they could hold on to something, they could take it away from you.”
“And when you can create that architecture in a movie where anything is possible, some people get lucky and some people are not lucky,” he added as he drew his thoughts to a close. “And when they tried to look at their wife who asked, ‘Why are we going out here?’ The man simply said, ‘We’re going to be luckier than that.’ And that’s how this country got settled and the American native Indians were crushed under this movement. They didn’t stand a chance.”
At current, the first entry of Costner’s Horizon: An American Saga duology is on track to expand outward on June 28th, with its second half following a little under two months later on August 16th.
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