May 28, 2025: Stunt performer Devyn LaBella has filed a lawsuit against Kevin Costner and the producers of Horizon: An American Saga – Chapter 2, alleging she was coerced into participating in a violent, unscripted simulated rape scene without prior consent, notice, or the presence of a required intimacy coordinator.
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The lawsuit, filed in California, claims that during production in May 2023, Costner—who wrote, directed, and stars in the film—improvised a new rape scene involving the character Juliette, portrayed by actress Ella Hunt. The day before, LaBella had already doubled for Hunt in a separate, scripted rape scene. According to the suit, Hunt declined to perform the newly improvised sequence, prompting producers to summon LaBella to set without informing her of Hunt’s refusal or the scene’s content.
LaBella alleges that she was unexpectedly directed by Costner to lie in a wagon while a male actor performed repeated simulated rape actions, including mounting her and raking up her skirt—without consent or rehearsal. She claims the film’s intimacy coordinator was absent, violating industry protocols governed by SAG-AFTRA, the actors’ union.
“I was left exposed, unprotected, and deeply betrayed by a system that promised safety and professionalism,” LaBella said in a statement. “What happened to me shattered my trust and forever changed how I move through this industry.”
The complaint also says that the set was not closed, allowing the entire crew and anyone passing by to view the scene live on monitors. This stands in stark contrast to the previous day’s scene, which followed industry protocols, including rehearsals and a private set.
LaBella is suing on grounds of sexual harassment, hostile work environment, and breach of contract, citing emotional distress and trauma that led her to begin therapy in June 2023.
Costner Responds: Allegations “Have No Merit”
Costner has denied all allegations. His attorney, Marty Singer, stated the claims are “completely contradicted by her own actions and the facts.” According to Singer, LaBella gave a “thumbs up” to a stunt coordinator during rehearsal, indicating consent. He also provided a text message allegedly sent by LaBella to the coordinator post-shoot, thanking them and saying, “I’m really happy it worked out the way it did.”
Singer emphasized that Costner is deeply committed to on-set safety and actor comfort, suggesting the lawsuit may stem from a misinterpretation or change of heart.
About Horizon: An American Saga
The Horizon films are part of Costner’s ambitious four-part Western anthology. The first chapter, released in June 2024, underperformed at the box office, grossing $38.7 million globally. Chapter 2 premiered at the Venice International Film Festival in September 2024, but its wide release remains undated. Costner has invested a reported $38 million of his own money into the project.
This legal controversy now casts a shadow over the franchise’s future and particularly Chapter 2’s pending release.