Kevin Costner’s big Western dream, Horizon: An American Saga, just hit another snag. A stunt performer named Devyn LaBella is suing Costner and the film’s producers, claiming she was blindsided by a “violent, unscripted” rape scene while working on Horizon: An American Saga – Chapter 2 in 2023. The lawsuit, filed on May 27, 2025, in Los Angeles County Superior Court, accuses the production of sexual harassment, breach of contract, and creating a hostile work environment. Costner’s lawyer is calling it a “shakedown” and denying the claims. With this legal mess brewing, here’s what’s going down and what it means for Costner’s troubled passion project.
LaBella was working as the stunt double for actress Ella Hunt, who plays Juliette in Costner’s four-part Western saga, which he co-wrote, directed, and stars in. She’d been on set in Utah for weeks, no issues. On May 1, 2023, she doubled for Hunt in a scripted rape scene with actor Douglas Smith’s character, Sig. It was carefully planned—rehearsals, a closed set, an intimacy coordinator to keep things professional—and went off without a hitch.
But the next day, things got messy. LaBella says she was called to set for what she thought was a standard scene. Turns out, Hunt had bailed on filming an unscripted rape scene, and LaBella was thrown into it without warning. According to the lawsuit, Costner himself directed her to lie in a wagon while another actor, Roger Ivens, was told to pin her down and “violently rake up her skirt” for multiple takes. No intimacy coordinator was present, the set wasn’t closed, and the scene was shown on monitors for the whole crew to see. LaBella says she felt humiliated and unsafe but kept going to stay professional. She raised concerns to colleagues, but nothing changed.
Costner’s attorney, Marty Singer, isn’t buying it. He’s calling the lawsuit “baseless” and says it’s just a grab for cash. While he hasn’t spilled details on their defense, he’s confident the claims won’t stick. Meanwhile, this fight is adding to the pile of problems for Horizon.
Costner’s gone all-in on this project, sinking $38 million to $50 million of his own money into it, even mortgaging his Santa Barbara home to cover the $100 million budget for the first two films. But Chapter 1 flopped hard in June 2024, pulling in just $38 million worldwide with so-so reviews. Chapter 2 was supposed to hit theaters in August 2024 but got pushed back, showing at the Venice Film Festival instead, and still doesn’t have a wide release date. Chapter 3 is filming without full funding, and Chapter 4 is up in the air. Plus, Costner’s production company is already tangled in arbitration with New Line Cinema and City National Bank over money disputes.
This lawsuit also puts a spotlight on how Hollywood handles sensitive scenes. Industry rules, backed by SAG-AFTRA, say scenes like this need intimacy coordinators and closed sets to keep performers safe. LaBella’s claim that those rules were ignored raises red flags about protecting stunt performers, who already take big risks. It’s a reminder that last-minute changes, especially from a director like Costner calling the shots, need clear communication and consent.
As the lawsuit plays out, it could make things even tougher for Horizon. A drawn-out court battle might stall Chapter 2’s release and add more bad press to a project already struggling to find its footing. For LaBella, it’s about getting justice for what she says was a humiliating experience. For Costner, a guy who’s made Westerns like Dances with Wolves shine, it’s another blow to a series he’s poured everything into, aiming to tell a big, diverse story about the American West. Fans are left wondering if Horizon can pull through. For now, with the law and the industry watching, Costner’s saga is facing one heck of a showdown.
Source: The Hollywood Reporter