Kevin Costner Faces Ongoing Legal Battle with Horizon II Stunt Performer Devyn LaBella over Harassment Claims

The legal fight between Kevin Costner and Horizon II stunt performer Devyn LaBella continues to escalate, with both sides locked in disputes not only about alleged misconduct but also about the very nature of the lawsuit itself.

Devyn LaBella’s Claims

LaBella, a SAG-AFTRA member and Barbie alum, filed suit in May 2023, alleging she was the victim of a “violent unscripted, unscheduled rape scene” during filming of Costner’s Western sequel Horizon II. She contends that:

• No intimacy or stunt coordinator was present during the controversial May 2 shoot.

• She was denied contractually required protections and rights under state discrimination law.

• The defendants are attempting to reframe her case as an attack on creative free speech, rather than a matter of safety protocols and workplace protections.

In her September 5 filing opposing dismissal, LaBella’s lawyers argued:

“By Defendants’ logic, the anti-SLAPP statute would prohibit any suit based on a film industry worker’s objection to the breaking of safety protocols during filming…This is a perverse use of a law meant to protect public participation in the exercise of free speech.”

LaBella is seeking damages and a court order requiring future Costner productions to employ intimacy coordinators and for all defendants to undergo anti-harassment and anti-sexual violence training.

Kevin Costner’s Response

Costner has called LaBella’s accusations a “bold-faced lie” designed to damage his reputation. His attorney, Marty Singer, dismissed the latest filing as:

“More of the same old nonsense…These claims are not only groundless, they are ridiculous. There are 12 independent witnesses who confirm that Ms. LaBella’s claims are fabricated.”

Singer insists Costner will fight for the truth and resist what he characterizes as a “transparent shakedown.”

The Broader Impact on Horizon

The legal battle threatens to overshadow Costner’s ambitious, partially self-funded Western saga, which already faces challenges:

• Horizon I underperformed at the box office.

• Horizon II has no confirmed release date.

• Planned Horizon III and Horizon IV have yet to begin production.

What’s Next

A September 18 hearing in Los Angeles Superior Court will determine whether the case proceeds or faces dismissal. The outcome could influence not only Costner’s reputation but also the future of the Horizon franchise.