Costner's 'Horizon' adding $75M to film impact in Utah

Washington County will get an influx of $75 million as Kevin Costner continues his “Horizon: An American Saga” western film series there.

The next two films of the four-movie series will be shot in the county and are among several projects approved for economic incentives by the Governor’s Office of Economic Opportunity (Go Utah) board during its May meeting. In all, the productions are expected to spend $84.7 million in Utah and employ 4,798 people. They were approved for incentives totaling up to $15.7 million.

The first installment of “Horizon” was shot last year in and around Grand and San Juan counties after being{mprestriction ids="1,3"} approved in June 2022 for a tax credit incentive of up to $13.48 million for the production of the first two parts of “Horizon.”

The Go Utah board in May approved Horizon Series 2 Inc. for a tax credit incentive of $14 million spread over three tax years. The company is expected to employ 75 cast, 150 crew and 3,500 extras. Principal photography began April 17 and is expected to continue through April 1, 2024, in Washington and Grand counties.

Costner is directing. The producer is Jeff T. Miller.

“This is, as we know, a giant project,” Virginia Pearce, director of the Utah Film Commission, told the Go Utah board. “We have done a lot of collaboration with them on kind of what that ‘sweet spot’ is to keep them in the state but be a good benefit for both of us.”

The series details a 15-year span of pre- and post-Civil War expansion and settlement of the American West.

“The county believes in this,” Washington County Commission Chairman Victor Iverson told the Go Utah board. “One thing that we really believe is this is kind of a rising industry here in our county, and so what ‘Horizon’ really does is it allows us to build the credibility, to build film in Washington County and already we’re looking at having private investors build a sound stage down here that’ll continue to build the infrastructure for film. So we see this as not just a film incentive, but you’re investing in economic development here in Washington County.”

“The production has made good on their commitment of local spend through not only the hiring of local crew and extras, but in purchase of raw materials and infrastructure services required to produce a film of this magnitude with minimal impact to our community,” Joyce Kelly, sales manager for the Greater Zion Convention & Tourism Office, said in a prepared statement. “Because of their work in our community, our film industry is strengthening and expanding.”

Kelly told the board that the production company has supported the Utah Tech University film school by hiring interns and committing to speaking engagements at the school. It also has improved roads to local ranches and also for the Shivwits Native American reservation. “And they’re thrilled to pieces that they are filming there and helping to make improvements there,” Kelly said.

“Glad that things are going so well, glad that this is working out for you guys,” Go Utah board Chair Carine Clark told the Washington County group.

Among other productions approved for state incentives by the Go Utah board, 7002 Inc. was approved for a tax credit of up to $400,000 for “Haul Out the Holly 2,” a family feature that is a sequel to Hallmark’s top-rated 2022 Christmas film starring Lacey Chabert.

The sequel is expected to spend nearly $2.7 million in Utah and employ 12 cast, 64 crew and 300 extras. Principal photography took place April 17-May 5 in Salt Lake County. The director is Maclain Nelson. The producer is David Wulf.

“Utah continues to be a wonderful place for Hallmark content,” Wulf said in a prepared statement. “Its small towns, coupled with its city charms and excellent scenic backdrops, really enhance the storytelling of this film.”

Three other productions were approved in May after having been delayed last year. All were approved for higher incentives than a year ago, but two are now projected to spend more in the state.

5004 Inc. was approved for a tax credit of up to $800,000 for “Wardriver,” a feature thriller expected to spend $4.8 million and involve 20 cast, 67 crew and 300 extras. Principal photography is set for Aug. 7-31 in Salt Lake, Weber and Utah counties.

The story focuses on a tech-savvy person who commits robberies from his laptop. The director is Daniel Casey. Producers are David Wulf, Trevor White and Arianne Fraser.

The production last August was approved for an incentive of up to $250,000 based on the same expected spending in the state.

Wolf Cub LLC was approved for a cash rebate of up to $329,374 for “Cub Scout,” a feature comedy projected to spend $1.3 million in Utah. Principal photography is set for June 12-July 14 in Summit or Sanpete counties. The production is expected to employ 17 cast, 53 crew and 20 extras.

The production had been approved last June for a rebate of up to $276,779, based on spending of roughly $1.1 million.

The film will tell the story of an orphan hiding in the Utah mountains, struggling to adjust to his solitary life as a werewolf but becoming an unlikely ally with a college student “after she escapes his claws,” according to Go Utah documents.

The director is Matt Heder. The producers are Alec Eskander and Alyssa Swansey.

German Film LLC was approved for a $186,902 cash rebate for a yet-to-be-named action feature expected to spend $934,511 in Utah. Principal photography started May 18 and is expected to continue through June 15 in Summit, Davis, Salt Lake and Utah counties. The film is expected to involve 63 cast, 37 crew and 120 extras. The director/producer is T.C. Christensen.

Last year, 1939 LLC was approved for a cash rebate of up to $175,822, based on spending $879,108.

“We are thrilled to see the growth of Utah’s film industry in every corner of our state from small-businesses owners to local crew professionals,” Pearce said. “With the support of our Film Ready Utah Communities and the rural film tax credit program, we continue to attract more film production to Utah and remain competitive in the film industry.”{/mprestriction}