A new legal dispute has emerged involving Kevin Costner, adding another challenge to the troubled production history of his ambitious Horizon film series.
According to court filings, Western Costume, a California-based costuming company, has filed a breach-of-contract lawsuit against Costner and his production company. The suit alleges that the actor and filmmaker failed to pay for costumes supplied for Horizon: An American Saga – Chapter 2, a sequel that has yet to be released.
The complaint claims that Costner accumulated an unpaid balance of more than $130,000, despite the costumes being used during filming. In total, Western Costume is seeking more than $440,000, including approximately $134,000 for unpaid services, $150,000 in claimed economic damages, and $200,000 in legal fees.
The lawsuit comes at a turbulent time for the Horizon franchise. Costner famously invested heavily in the Western epic, which was designed as a multi-part saga exploring the expansion of the American West. The first two films were shot almost back-to-back, with Costner reportedly financing a significant portion himself.
However, the first installment struggled at the box office, earning roughly $38 million worldwide against a reported production budget of around $100 million. Following the disappointing performance, New Line Cinema and Warner Bros. Pictures opted not to move forward with releasing the second chapter, placing plans for future installments on hold despite Chapter 2 already being completed.
This is not the only legal issue connected to Horizon: Chapter 2. Earlier this year, stunt performer Devon Lebella filed a separate lawsuit alleging misconduct during production. Her complaint claims she was subjected to a violent, unscripted scene that lacked proper notice, consent, and safety safeguards. Costner has denied the allegations, and the case has not yet gone to trial. Court records show that two of the original ten claims were dismissed prior to further proceedings.
Representatives for Costner have not publicly commented on the Western Costume lawsuit as of this writing.
As the legal disputes unfold and the future of the Horizon saga remains uncertain, the situation underscores the high financial and personal stakes involved in Costner’s most ambitious project to date—one that continues to face obstacles both on and off the screen.
