Prime Video Bets Big, Resurrects Kevin Costner’s Infamous Western Flop

Kevin Costner has made an undeniable and significant contribution to the Western genre over a career spanning more than four decades. His most prominent role in a Western series began in 2018 as John Dutton, the patriarch in Taylor Sheridan's acclaimed neo-Western series, Yellowstone. Costner's portrayal quickly became a fan favorite, making news of his impending departure ahead of the final season particularly impactful and controversial.

The story behind Costner's exit from the Paramount+ series at its peak was complex, reportedly stemming from behind-the-scenes tensions between Paramount and Costner. Conflicts arose because the demands of Yellowstone's final season interfered with Costner's deeply personal passion project, "Horizon: An American Saga." Efforts to reduce Costner's screen time were insufficient, ultimately leading to Taylor Sheridan's decision to kill off John Dutton's character in what became one of television's most debated on-screen deaths.

"Horizon: An American Saga" is a sweeping multi-part film series dedicated to early American history, a project Costner had endeavored to bring to life for years. The first chapter debuted in 2024 to mixed critical reviews, holding a 51% critic score on Rotten Tomatoes. Furthermore, the film underperformed at the box office, failing to recoup its production budget. Despite its initial struggles, the project remains a significant focus for Costner, who has previously overcome challenging production odds.

Following its theatrical release, the second part of "Horizon" was indefinitely delayed by distributors to allow the franchise an opportunity to cultivate a fanbase through streaming. Chapter 1 subsequently landed on HBO Max, Netflix, and most recently, Prime Video in the US, where it has quickly become one of the most-streamed movies. Its success on streaming platforms is crucial for the release of the remaining chapters, as production of the third part has encountered financial hurdles, and the fourth exists only in script form. The franchise is also currently embroiled in various legal disputes, adding further complexities to its future.

Complementing the rich world of Taylor Sheridan's creations, a "Taylor Sheridan Universe Quiz" by Collider offers fans an interactive way to discover which of his intense and morally complex worlds they belong in. The quiz explores four distinct universes: "Yellowstone," "Landman," "Tulsa King," and "Mayor of Kingstown." These worlds are characterized by their brutal nature, intricate plots, and the constant interplay of power, loyalty, and the price of survival, where characters often operate in morally gray areas.

The quiz comprises ten questions, each delving into different facets of these worlds and the protagonists within them. Questions cover themes such as the source of one's power (land/legacy, negotiation skills, reputation, indispensability), the nature of loyalty (family, company, crew, community), responses to conflict (decisive action, legal outmaneuvering, direct confrontation, system stabilization), preferred settings (open land, oil fields, developing city, prison town), comfort with moral ambiguity, the ambition driving characters, leadership styles (force of will, negotiation, experience, calm center), reactions to outsiders, the personal cost of their positions, and their desired legacy.

Based on their answers, participants are assigned to a Sheridan universe. For instance, those aligned with "Yellowstone" embody the spirit of a Dutton, fiercely protecting land, legacy, and family, leading with conviction and absoluteness. "Landman" types thrive in high-stakes negotiations, adapting to the brutal realities of the oil industry. "Tulsa King" individuals, akin to Dwight Manfredi, rebuild their reputation and establish loyalty through respect in unexpected environments. Lastly, those belonging to "Mayor of Kingstown" carry the burden of a broken system, maintaining peace in a world with no easy choices, understanding the invaluable yet perilous nature of their role as a bridge between conflicting factions.

Despite the ongoing challenges with "Horizon: An American Saga," including its mixed reception, box office struggles, streaming performance pressure, and legal entanglements, Kevin Costner's unwavering belief in this tetralogy persists. Its ultimate success and the completion of its chapters remain to be seen, with its performance on streaming platforms like Prime Video being a critical determinant.