The highly-anticipated second installment of Kevin Costner's Horizon saga has been postponed from its original August release date after the first film failed to meet expectations. Premiering at the Cannes film festival in May, the initial reception was lukewarm, with negative reviews and a meager 48% rating on Rotten Tomatoes.

Peter Bradshaw of The Guardian described the first film as "handsome-looking but oddly listless." Despite carrying a reported combined budget of $100 million, the opening weekend earnings fell short at just $11 million, and the film has only managed to accumulate less than $25 million worldwide.

In a statement provided to the Hollywood Reporter, the decision to delay the release of the second film was explained as an opportunity to allow audiences more time to discover the first installment. The intention is to enhance the overall viewing experience of Horizon 2. "Kevin made this film for people who love movies and who wanted to go on a journey," the statement read. The production team expressed gratitude for the support they have received from film fans and theater owners thus far.

As part of the strategy to attract a larger audience, the first film became available for rent in the US on July 16, and it is set to be released on Max soon. Customers who had already purchased advance tickets for the second film will now be offered refunds, with no rescheduled date announced as of yet.

Kevin Costner is said to have personally invested $38 million into the Horizon saga. Despite the underperformance of the first film, Costner remains optimistic about the series' success. He stated in an interview with Entertainment Weekly that he understands the pressure on films during their opening weekend, but he is more concerned about the artistic vision and the way the movie looks.

The Horizon saga also marks Costner's departure from the popular Yellowstone TV universe, as he confirmed on social media after rumors began circulating. With two more films planned after the second installment and the third already in production, Costner remains committed to bringing this saga to life on the big screen.

Fans will have to wait for the rescheduled release date for the second film in the Horizon saga, as Costner and the production team focus on building anticipation and ensuring a more successful outcome for the series as a whole.