Kevin Costner’s ambitious Western saga faces another roadblock.
Western Costume Company has filed a lawsuit against the actor and his production company, Territory Pictures, demanding roughly $440,000 in unpaid costume rental fees from Horizon: An American Saga – Chapter 2.
This latest legal battle adds to mounting financial pressures as Costner struggles to secure funding for future installments of his passion project.
The timing couldn’t be worse—with Chapter 2 shelved indefinitely and multiple lawsuits piling up, the future of the entire series hangs in balance.
The Costume Rental Dispute
Western Costume filed the breach of contract lawsuit in California state court, citing an unpaid invoice from 2024 totaling approximately $134,000.
According to the complaint, Territory Pictures “did not pay the agreed upon rate for the costumes and failed to return the costumes undamaged.” The lawsuit seeks compensation not just for unpaid fees, but also for alleged damage to outfits used during production.
This isn’t the first rental dispute for the production. Earlier this year, the production vehicle behind Horizon settled another lawsuit accusing it of failing to pay for rentals across both Chapter 1 and Chapter 2.
Box Office Disaster Derails Release Plans
Horizon: An American Saga – Chapter 2 was originally slated for release last year but remains in limbo following the commercial failure of the first installment.
Chapter 1 earned just $38.7 million against a $100 million budget—a devastating financial loss that forced studios to reconsider their commitment to the series. The sequel currently has no release date, leaving cast, crew, and creditors uncertain about when—or if—audiences will ever see it.
The poor box office performance has created a domino effect, making it nearly impossible for Costner to secure financing for subsequent chapters.
Desperate Search for Funding
Costner has pursued unconventional financing sources to keep his Western dream alive.
Last year, he met with top Saudi officials to pitch them on financing the third and fourth installments of Horizon. According to The Hollywood Reporter, those discussions didn’t result in a deal.
Chapter 3 wasn’t fully financed as of last year and remains in limbo. Despite these challenges, construction is underway in Utah on a $100 million film studio that Costner and Territory Pictures are developing with a local partner—a bold move given current financial uncertainties.
Banking and Distribution Battles
Financial troubles extend beyond unpaid costume bills.
A March hearing is scheduled in arbitration between Costner’s company, Horizon‘s bondholder City National Bank, and distributor New Line Cinema over breaches of a co-financing agreement.
The dispute centers on repayment obligations. After City National Bank initiated legal proceedings, New Line Cinema filed a crossclaim seeking repayment from Horizon Series as part of its defense.
Under the original deal, both New Line and Horizon Series were required to repay portions of the financing. New Line claims it covered its partner’s unpaid portion, but City National Bank maintains it’s still owed additional funds.
This complex three-way legal battle could determine whether any future Horizon films ever get made.
Sexual Harassment Lawsuit Adds to Legal Woes
Beyond financial disputes, Costner faces serious allegations from a stunt performer who worked on Chapter 2.
The lawsuit, filed in Los Angeles Superior Court, accuses the production of sexual discrimination, harassment, and retaliation. The performer alleges an unscripted rape scene was filmed without the presence of a contractually mandated intimacy coordinator.
Such allegations raise serious questions about on-set safety protocols and contractual violations during production—issues that could have lasting repercussions for Costner’s reputation and future projects.
Pattern of Payment Problems
The Western Costume lawsuit represents part of a troubling pattern for Territory Pictures.
Multiple vendors have now come forward with claims of unpaid bills from the Horizon productions. The earlier settlement regarding rental equipment suggests these aren’t isolated incidents but systemic cash flow issues.
When productions fail to pay vendors and return damaged equipment, it signals deeper financial instability—problems that typically don’t resolve themselves without significant capital infusion or restructuring.
What This Means for Horizon’s Future
Costner invested heavily—both financially and emotionally—in bringing his Western vision to life.
But mounting lawsuits, unpaid bills, and arbitration battles paint a picture of a production in crisis. Without resolution to these legal disputes and fresh capital, completing the ambitious multi-film series seems increasingly unlikely.
The combination of poor box office performance, vendor disputes, banking conflicts, and serious on-set allegations creates a perfect storm that few productions could weather.
Representatives for Horizon Series didn’t immediately respond to requests for comment on the latest lawsuit—another concerning sign as legal pressures mount.
Whether Costner can salvage his Western epic from this cascade of complications remains one of Hollywood’s most uncertain storylines.