Kevin Costner Sued Over Unpaid Costume Fees as ‘Horizon’ Saga Faces Mounting Legal and Financial Struggles
Courtesy of New Line Cinema, Warner Bros. Pictures.
As Kevin Costner continues searching for financing to complete his ambitious ‘Horizon’ Western saga, he faces a new lawsuit over unpaid costume rental fees tied to ‘Horizon: An American Saga – Chapter 2.’
Western Costume filed a breach of contract complaint on Monday in California state court against Costner and his production company, Territory Pictures. The suit seeks approximately $440,000, citing unpaid costume rental charges as well as alleged damage to several garments.
The legal action comes amid growing financial and legal pressures on Costner as he pushes ahead with plans to complete the ‘Horizon’ series. Financing the project has proven difficult. Costner held meetings last year with senior Saudi officials to explore funding for the third and fourth installments, but those discussions did not result in an agreement.
Originally slated for release last year, ‘Horizon: An American Saga – Chapter 2’ has been shelved following the underperformance of the first film, which grossed $38.7 million against a $100 million production budget. The sequel currently does not have a release date.
In its complaint, Western Costume references a 2024 invoice totaling about $134,000 for wardrobe rentals. The company alleges the production failed to pay the agreed-upon rates and returned costumes in damaged condition. Earlier this year, the Horizon production entity resolved a separate lawsuit related to unpaid rental fees spanning both the first chapter and its sequel.
The filing does not address Chapter 3, which was not fully financed as of last year and remains on hold. Meanwhile, construction is moving forward in Utah on a $100 million film studio backed by Costner and Territory Pictures in partnership with a local developer.
Additional legal matters are looming…
In March, an arbitration hearing is scheduled involving Costner’s company, Horizon bondholder City National Bank, and distributor New Line Cinema over alleged breaches of a co-financing agreement. After City National Bank launched legal action against both parties, New Line responded with a crossclaim seeking reimbursement from Horizon Series. Under the agreement, both New Line and Horizon Series were obligated to repay portions of the financing. New Line maintains it covered its share as well as its partner’s, while the bank argues it is still owed additional funds.
Separately, in Los Angeles Superior Court, Costner and the production are also facing a lawsuit from a stunt performer who worked on Chapter 2. The performer alleges sexual discrimination, harassment, and retaliation stemming from an unscripted rape scene that was filmed without the presence of an intimacy coordinator, despite contractual requirements.
TRENDING NEWS