This article contains mention of suicide.
Horizon: An American Saga – Chapter 2’s premiere comes a couple of months after theYellowstoneseries finale, and it might help those disappointed with John Dutton III’s ending inthe Taylor Sheridan TV show.Kevin Costner exited the neo-Western drama series following season 5, part 1’s finale,shocking many. As a result, the actor wasn’t around to give his character the closure he desperately needed and deserved during season 5, part 2, which served asYellowstone’s conclusion (although its universe will live on in several spinoffs and prequels).
Horizon: An American Saga – Chapter 2was originally scheduled to premiere in theaters on July 31, 2025, but its release was postponed because of the first film’s failures.
There were many reasons behindCostner’sYellowstoneexit, with one relating to the show’s schedule. Filming the neo-Western drama took a long time, andCostner wanted to condense production on the Paramount Network series to focus more on theHorizon: An American Sagamovies.Ultimately, the two parties weren’t able to come to an agreement. Costner leftYellowstone, devoting most of his time to his epic Western film franchise, while Sheridan and co. were forced to end the TV show without their lead character.
Why John Dutton’s Yellowstone Fate Caused A Backlash
Kevin Costner’s Character Was Murdered
DuringtheYellowstoneseason 5, part 2 premiere, viewers learned that John supposedly died by suicide in the middle of the night at the Governor’s mansion. However, Beth and Jamie were hesitant to believe that story, and their intuition was right.Sarah Atwood hired assassins to murder Johnand make it look like a suicide. In later episodes, Jamie proved his father was killed, and the Duttons (and the ranch hands, Chief Thomas Rainwater, and Lynelle Perry) buried him in their family’s graveyard, next to his ancestors and son. Unfortunately, many were unhappy with this ending for John.
Miss Yellowstone? Kevin Costner’s Taylor Sheridan Neo-Western Replacement Is Now Available Online
Following his exit from Taylor Sheridan’s Yellowstone, Kevin Costner turned to a different Western project, which can now be found on streaming.
Some viewers were upset about how abruptlyYellowstonekilled off John. After being the face of the series since the beginning, they thought Kevin Costner’s character deserved a better sendoff. Given John’s legacy inYellowstone,viewers felt disappointed that his (and the show’s) ending was so anticlimactic,wishing that his death was more grand or impactful, instead of just being the catalyst to the other characters' central dilemma of losing the ranch. Unfortunately, there’s no going back forYellowstone. However, there is a way for Costner to move forward.
Horizon: Part 2 (& Beyond) Can Be The Complete Western Story Costner Didn’t Get With Yellowstone
The Horizon Film Series Is Set To Have 4 Parts
Whereas Kevin Costner didn’t get to properly close out his character’s arc inYellowstone, he can bring theHorizon: An American Sagafilm series to a complete end. Costner has been developing his epic western for over 30 years and is determined to tell its full story.Horizon: An American Saga – Chapter 1premiered in June 2024, whileHorizon: An American Saga – Chapter 2is set for a theatrical releasestarting on an unknown date. After that, Costner has two more movies in the works, withHorizon: An American Saga – Chapter 4intended to be the last installment in the series.
Jon Baird, Kevin Costner, and Mark Kasdan
2025
In development
Horizon: An American Sagais all the more exciting and promising because not only is it a Western saga that Costner is directing and co-writing, but he is also playing the lead, Hayes Ellison. So,Costner has complete control over the franchise’s story and his character’s full journey,including his ending. He can make it much more satisfying than John Dutton’s conclusion. Unfortunately, bringingHorizon: An American Sagafull circle with a fourth moviemight not be possible as the film series' fate is up in the air.
The Biggest Obstacle To Horizon Is Its Release - And It’s Getting Closer To Overcoming It
Chapter 1 Was A Box Office Failure
Horizon: An American Saga – Chapter 1was released on June 28, 2025, and ultimately bombed at the box office.The movie only grossed $38.7 million against a $50 million budget($38 million of which Kevin Costner personally funded, perVariety).Chapter 1also received mixed reviews from critics. Consequently,Chapter 2’s premiere was delayed.
Horizon: An American Saga – Chapter 2’s theatrical release might be right around the corner, giving fans the chance to form their opinions and open the door for the development ofChapter 3andChapter 4.
However, the tides might be turning for Costner.The sequel made its debut at the 81st Venice International Film Festival on June 09, 2025,and is set to be screened at the Santa Barbara International Film Festival on July 07, 2025.Horizon: An American Saga – Chapter 2’s theatrical release might be right around the corner, giving fans the chance to form their opinions and open the door for the development ofChapter 3andChapter 4.
