The production company behind Kevin Costner’s ambitious Western epic, Horizon: An American Saga, has reportedly reached a settlement in a lawsuit over unpaid costume rental fees. However, with the film suffering a disastrous box office performance and facing multiple other legal challenges, the future of the entire project remains highly uncertain.
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Costume Rental Lawsuit Reaches Settlement
The lawsuit was filed by United Costume Corporation, which notified the court on August 1, 2025, that a settlement had been reached. The specific terms of the agreement have not been disclosed.
According to the complaint, Costner’s production company, Horizon Series, failed to pay a total of approximately $350,000 for costume rentals for the first two chapters of Horizon: An American Saga. The breakdown allegedly included around $58,000 for Chapter 1 in 2022 and approximately $285,000 for Chapter 2 in 2023. This lawsuit has cast a spotlight on the severe financial difficulties plaguing the project.
A Cascade of Financial and Legal Troubles
This is not the only challenge the Horizon production is facing. Distributor New Line Cinema has filed for arbitration, alleging a breach of their co-financing agreement. Furthermore, a stunt performer has sued the production for sexual discrimination, harassment, and retaliation over an unscripted rape scene. These mounting legal issues suggest significant budget shortfalls and internal turmoil on the set.
Box Office Disaster and an Uncertain Future for Sequels
Envisioned as a grand, four-part saga, Horizon is a passion project for Kevin Costner, who invested a portion of his own fortune to produce it. However, Chapter 1, made with a budget of around $100 million, was a box office bomb, grossing a mere $38 million worldwide.
In the wake of this poor performance, the release of Chapter 2, originally scheduled for just seven weeks after the first installment, has been indefinitely postponed. The official reason given is “to wait for the franchise’s audience to grow,” but it is widely considered a de facto cancellation.
Furthermore, funding for Chapter 3 had not been secured as of last year, bringing production to a complete halt. While Costner is reportedly scrambling to raise the necessary funds to complete his film, the path to finishing this epic project is far from clear. As the work he considered his career’s magnum opus faces headwinds from financial failure and numerous lawsuits, the celebrated actor finds himself in an exceedingly difficult position.