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Cast of Horizon An American Saga Chapter 1 – Full Cast List and Roles

Benjamin Evan Mitchell Campbell • 2026-04-16 • Reviewed by Daniel Mercer






Horizon: An American Saga – Chapter 1 Cast: Full List of Actors & Roles (2024)

The cast of Horizon: An American Saga – Chapter 1 brings together a diverse ensemble of actors portraying settlers, soldiers, Apache warriors, and outlaws during the American Civil War-era frontier. This comprehensive guide details every major and supporting role in Kevin Costner’s ambitious Western epic.

The film marks a significant personal project for Costner, who serves as director, producer, co-writer, and star. Principal photography took place across the American Southwest, with the production aiming to capture authentic period details and landscape.

Who Are the Main Actors in Horizon: An American Saga – Chapter 1?

The lead performances anchor the sprawling narrative. Kevin Costner leads an ensemble that spans multiple storylines across the settlement of Horizon and the Santa Fe Trail.

Lead Actor
Kevin Costner
Key Co-Stars
Sienna Miller, Sam Worthington
Director
Kevin Costner
Release Date
June 28, 2024
  • Kevin Costner takes on multiple roles, serving as director, producer, screenwriter, and leading actor
  • Sienna Miller portrays a widowed mother who loses her husband and son in the Apache attack on Horizon
  • Sam Worthington plays a Union Army officer whose escort mission puts him in contact with survivors
  • The ensemble includes over 50 named characters across the three main storylines
  • Several cast members have extensive experience in the Western genre
  • Indigenous actors play significant roles in depicting Apache characters with authenticity
Actor Role Notable Past Work
Kevin Costner Hayes Ellison (horse trader) Dances with Wolves, Yellowstone
Sienna Miller Frances Kittredge (widowed mother) American Honey, Layer Cake
Sam Worthington First Lt. Trent Gephardt (Union officer) Avatar, Terminator Salvation
Giovanni Ribisi H. Silas Pickering (printing mogul) Sisters, Ted
Michael Rooker Sgt. Major Thomas Riordan The Guardians of the Galaxy
Luke Wilson Matthew Van Weyden (expedition captain) Midnight in Paris, Bottle Rocket

Who Plays What Role in Horizon Chapter 1?

Hayes Ellison: Kevin Costner’s Central Figure

Kevin Costner portrays Hayes Ellison, a wandering horse trader who traverses the frontier collecting and trading horses. Hayes appears connected to multiple storylines, crossing paths with various factions as he moves through the territory. His role as both leading actor and creative force behind the project reflects a rare degree of creative control in modern Hollywood.

Frances Kittredge: Sienna Miller’s Survivor

Sienna Miller plays Frances Kittredge, a widowed mother who has lost her husband James and son Nathaniel in the Apache attack that devastates the settlement of Horizon. Her daughter Elizabeth survives, and Frances must navigate grief while ensuring their survival. She becomes romantically involved with First Lieutenant Gephardt during his escort of survivors.

Character Connection

Frances Kittredge’s story intersects with several characters across the ensemble, including her brother-in-law Owen Kittredge, who leads an expedition on the Santa Fe Trail.

First Lieutenant Trent Gephardt: Sam Worthington’s Military Officer

Sam Worthington portrays First Lieutenant Trent Gephardt, a Union Army officer tasked with escorting Horizon survivors to safety. His mentor, Sergeant Major Thomas Riordan, provides guidance throughout the journey. Gephardt develops feelings for Frances Kittredge as the story progresses, creating an emotional core amid the frontier violence.

The Soldiers and Military Leadership

Danny Huston plays Colonel Albert Houghton, a pragmatic military commander navigating the complexities of frontier warfare. Michael Rooker’s Sergeant Major Thomas Riordan serves as Gephardt’s experienced mentor, offering tactical wisdom and personal counsel.

The Apache Perspectives

Owen Crow Shoe portrays Pionsenay, the Apache hunter who leads the attack on the Horizon settlement. Tatanka Means plays Taklishim, another significant Apache character. Gregory Cruz appears as Tuayeseh, an Apache elder, while Wasé Chief portrays Liluye. These roles are played by Indigenous actors, with some characters speaking their native languages in key scenes.

Full Cast List for Horizon: An American Saga – Chapter 1

The production features an extensive supporting cast filling out the various communities and factions depicted in the narrative. From the Sykes family farming community to the Tracker’s mercenary gang, each ensemble adds dimension to the frontier world.

The Kittredge Family

The Kittredge family features prominently across the Horizon settlement and Santa Fe Trail storylines. Frances Kittredge (Sienna Miller) is joined by her late husband James Kittredge (Tim Guinee), who appears in flashback sequences, and their surviving daughter Elizabeth Kittredge (Georgia MacPhail). Owen Kittredge (Will Patton), Frances’s brother-in-law, leads a group on the Santa Fe Trail expedition alongside his youngest daughter Diamond Kittredge (Isabelle Fuhrman). Additional family members include Martha Kittredge (Naomi Winders) and Nathaniel Kittredge (Hayes Costner), the son who dies in the attack.

Family Connections

Hayes Costner, Kevin Costner’s son, appears as Nathaniel Kittredge in his first significant film role alongside his father.

The Sykes Family and Settler Community

The Sykes family represents one of the settler communities navigating frontier dangers. Charles Halford plays James Sykes, the family patriarch, while Jamie Campbell Bower portrays Caleb Sykes. Jon Beavers appears as Junior Sykes, with Dale Dickey playing Mrs. Sykes. Additional Sykes family members include Ben Sykes (Joe Burns), Gratton Sykes (Austin R. Grant), and Uncle Sykes (Bryan Hisey).

Mercenaries and Outlaws

Jeff Fahey leads the mercenary group as the Tracker, a hardened leader assembling a crew for frontier work. Scott Haze appears as Elias Janney, a mercenary who speaks Indigenous languages, while Etienne Kellici plays Russell Ganz, an orphaned boy integrated into Tracker’s gang. James Landry Hébert portrays Flagg, another member of this criminal element.

The Santa Fe Trail Expedition

Luke Wilson captains the Santa Fe Trail expedition as Matthew Van Weyden. Douglas Smith plays Sig, a character described as a peeping tom within this group. Lindsay Foster appears as Mrs. Van Weyden, while Colin Cunningham portrays Chisholm, another member of the expedition party.

Horizon Founders and Townspeople

Angus Macfadyen plays Desmarais, the missionary who founded the Horizon settlement. Abbey Lee appears as Marigold, a babysitter within the community. James Russo portrays Abel Naughton, a merchant dealing in supplies and firearms. Additional townspeople include Ella Hunt as Juliette Chesney and Tom Payne as Hugh Proctor.

Supporting Characters and Minor Roles

The production includes numerous supporting performers filling out the frontier world. Larry Bagby appears as Billy Landry and Flagg James. Dalton Baker portrays Private Epps, while Chase Ramsey plays Private Eklund. Austin Archer appears as Virgil, and Raynor Scheine plays a Hermit. Michael Todd Behrens appears as Surgeon Vreeland, with Aaron Bruderer as post office clerk Ned.

Other supporting performers include Todd Allen as Buckhout, Ariel Llinas as Mike Connolly, David O’Hara as the Bowler Hat Surveyor and Second Surveyor, and Alejandro Edda as Neron Chavez. Additional cast members include Antonio D. Charity as Joseph, Cici Lau as Mrs. Hong, Phoebe Ho as Yuan, Leroy Silva as a Mimbreño Brave, and Cleo and Nyla Eringer-Parkerkast as Samson.

Who Directed and Key Crew Behind Horizon Chapter 1?

Kevin Costner serves as the primary creative force behind the project, bringing a personal vision to the Western genre that has defined much of his career. His involvement spans multiple facets of production, reflecting a commitment to the story that spans over a decade of development.

Kevin Costner’s Creative Vision

Costner’s role encompasses directing, producing, co-writing the screenplay, and starring in the lead role. The project represents one of his most ambitious undertakings since Dances with Wolves, which won him Academy Awards for Best Picture and Best Director. His personal investment in the Western genre is evident throughout the production, with the story drawing on themes of frontier settlement, conflict, and survival.

Production Notes

The story originated from work by Kevin Costner, Jon Baird, and Mark Kasdan, with Costner developing the narrative over an extended period before bringing it to production.

Key Production Staff

Mark Kasdan serves as producer alongside Costner, with story credit shared among Costner, Jon Baird, and Kasdan. The screenplay credits list Kevin Costner and Jon Baird as writers. Principal photography took place over multiple months, capturing the landscapes of the American Southwest to represent the Civil War-era frontier.

Official Credits and Verification

Official and complete production credits are available through IMDb and Wikipedia listings. These resources provide the most comprehensive documentation of cast and crew involvement for those seeking detailed production information.

Cast and Production Timeline

The development and production of Horizon: An American Saga – Chapter 1 spans several years, with casting and principal photography occurring across distinct phases of development.

  1. 2022: Initial casting announcements begin as production plans take shape
  2. Early 2023: Major cast members including Costner, Miller, and Worthington confirmed for roles
  3. Mid-2023: Principal photography begins across Southwest locations
  4. Late 2023: Production concludes as post-production work commences
  5. June 28, 2024: Chapter 1 releases in theaters nationwide
  6. August 2024: Production on Chapter 2 reportedly continues following Chapter 1 release

What Is Confirmed and What Remains Unclear

Established Information Unconfirmed Details
Complete cast list for Chapter 1 as detailed in official credits Specific casting differences between Chapter 1 and Chapter 2
Kevin Costner’s multi-role as director, producer, star, and co-writer Whether additional actors appear in Chapter 2 without appearing in Chapter 1
June 28, 2024 release date for Chapter 1 Exact Chapter 2 release date as of this production stage
Core ensemble of approximately 50 named characters Future casting announcements for subsequent planned installments
Chapter 2 production following Chapter 1 release Whether any Chapter 1 cast members do not return for Chapter 2

Cast Selection and the Western Genre

The ensemble brings together performers with diverse backgrounds across film and television. Several cast members, including Costner himself, have established connections to the Western genre through previous work. Costner’s reputation as a Western filmmaker, established through Dances with Wolves and the television series Yellowstone, informs the project’s creative identity.

The inclusion of Indigenous actors in significant roles reflects a commitment to authentic representation. Performers including Owen Crow Shoe and Tatanka Means bring cultural knowledge and lived experience to their portrayals of Apache characters, adding depth to the film’s depiction of frontier conflict from multiple perspectives.

Sources and Official Credits

Cast information has been compiled from multiple sources including Wikipedia, Fandango, Collider, and Rotten Tomatoes, with verification across these platforms. Official production credits provide authoritative documentation of each performer’s involvement.

The ensemble cast features the following actors and their primary roles, compiled from multiple sources. Roles involve characters navigating the American Civil War-era frontier, including settlers, soldiers, Apaches, and outlaws.

Sources: Wikipedia, Fandango, Collider, Rotten Tomatoes

  • Wikipedia: Comprehensive cast and crew documentation with citation support
  • Fandango: Official cast listings with character role verification
  • Collider: Character profiles and casting announcements
  • Rotten Tomatoes: Top-billed cast information with review context
  • IMDb: Complete and detailed production credits

Summary

The cast of Horizon: An American Saga – Chapter 1 represents a substantial ensemble effort, with Kevin Costner leading a production that spans multiple storylines across the American frontier. From the central performances of Costner, Sienna Miller, and Sam Worthington to the extensive supporting cast depicting settlers, soldiers, Apache warriors, and outlaws, the film presents a comprehensive portrayal of Civil War-era America. For those seeking additional casting information, comparable productions like Cast of Transformers Rise of the Beasts – Full Cast and Roles offer similar ensemble-focused resources.

Frequently Asked Questions

How many actors appear in Horizon: An American Saga – Chapter 1?

The production features approximately 50 named characters with speaking roles, including a core ensemble of major performers and extensive supporting cast members filling out various frontier communities.

Is Kevin Costner the only director credited on Chapter 1?

Kevin Costner serves as the sole director for Horizon: An American Saga – Chapter 1. He also holds producing credit and co-wrote the screenplay alongside Jon Baird.

Are there differences between the cast of Chapter 1 and Chapter 2?

Specific details about casting differences between Chapter 1 and Chapter 2 remain unclear based on available information. Official announcements for Chapter 2 cast have not been fully detailed as of this production stage.

Where can I find the official cast credits for Horizon Chapter 1?

Official and complete cast credits are available through IMDb, Wikipedia, Fandango, and Rotten Tomatoes, each providing verified information about performers and their character roles.

Does Sienna Miller appear throughout both chapters?

Sienna Miller appears as Frances Kittredge in Chapter 1. Information regarding her involvement in Chapter 2 has not been confirmed through official sources as of the current release stage.

How does Horizon Chapter 1 compare to other Kevin Costner Westerns?

Horizon marks Costner’s first Western feature film as both director and star since Dances with Wolves. The production’s multi-chapter structure and ensemble approach distinguish it from his previous Western works, though thematic connections to frontier narratives remain consistent.




Benjamin Evan Mitchell Campbell

About the author

Benjamin Evan Mitchell Campbell

We publish daily fact-based reporting with continuous editorial review.