The Greater Zion Convention & Tourism Office, along with the Utah Film Commission, has been working with Kevin Costner’s production company Territory Pictures for the filming of Horizon, an American Saga throughout Washington County. Parts two and three of the four-film series are slated for production in Greater Zion this year, the first movie was shot in and around Moab. The tourism office anticipates the production will provide more than $90M in economic impact to the region.
“The filming of Horizon lays the groundwork for the Greater Zion region to diversify its tourism economy,” said Joyce Kelly, sales manager for Greater Zion. “Our distinct landscape has been the setting for several film and commercial shoots over the years but nothing of the magnitude of Horizon. This is a multi-year partnership with great economic benefit to the community, but little impact to residents.”
For years, the tourism office has been working with the production team to bring Horizon to the region. Horizon is written, directed and starring Kevin Costner. The film depicts the settlement of the American West pre- and post-Civil War. The film will shoot at various undisclosed locations throughout Washington County in 2023.
“The State of Utah, with its intrinsic beauty, is the perfect backdrop for the story of Horizon and can be said to be its own character in our story,” said Costner. “I am looking forward to bringing the production of this next installment of Horizon to Washington County, and I want to thank Joyce Kelly who was tireless in her efforts to bring the west back to Utah and her beloved county and the Commission for their support in making that possible.”
“Utah’s film history is rooted in the western genre and we are thrilled that an epic western like Horizon from Academy Award-winning director Kevin Costner will continue filming in Utah with the landscapes of Washington County as the backdrop,” said Derek Mellus, production manager for the Utah Film Commission. “With a large-scale production like Horizon, local talent, crew and vendors will gain new opportunities for growth in the industry providing a lasting economic impact in the local community.”
The filming of Horizon also is a great opportunity to expand the Film Program at Utah Tech University. Students will have an opportunity for internships and other hands-on experiences with the film. In addition, local citizens will have the opportunity to get involved as extras, crew and more. The Greater Zion Convention & Tourism Office will help facilitate communication of upcoming opportunities to get involved in Horizon. Interested businesses and residents should visit film.greaterzion.com for film announcements, which are forthcoming.
Washington County provides a unique geological backdrop for filming as several geological regions converge – the Mojave Desert, Colorado Plateau and the Great Basin. The destination is in the northeastern most part of the Mojave Desert and adjacent to the Pine Valley Mountains creating a scenic destination filled with red rock, black lava fields, stunning mountain peaks, desert canyons and so much more. This picturesque setting has been the backdrop for classic films like Butch Cassidy and the Sundance Kid, popular hits like High School Musical 2 and Katy Perry’s 2016 Rise music video.