Kevin Costner Is Sued by ‘Horizon’ Actor Over Rape Scene
A stunt double who worked on the western “Horizon: An American Saga — Chapter 2” sued its director, Kevin Costner, and producers on Tuesday for what she called forced participation in a “violent unscripted, unscheduled rape scene” without advance notice or an intimacy coordinator.
The plaintiff, Devyn LaBella, who was the lead stunt double for the actress Ella Hunt, who plays Juliette, said she was left with permanent trauma after the scene and was seeking a public apology and unspecified compensatory and punitive damages. A lawyer for Mr. Costner said the claims were meritless.
According to Ms. LaBella’s complaint, the unscripted rape scene took place in May 2023, one day after she had filmed a similar one without incident. Mr. Costner, the suit said, inserted additional scenes to be shot with a different male actor in which he would climb on top of Ms. Hunt and violently rake up her skirt.
“Ms. Hunt became visibly upset and walked off the set, refusing to do the scene,” the complaint said.
At that point, Ms. LaBella was asked to stand in. She had not been prepared for the scene, the suit said, and learned its details after filming had already begun. There were multiple takes of the scene, according to the lawsuit.
“Horizon 2” was the planned second installment of a four-part film series by Mr. Costner. After the first chapter, which cost $100 million to make, earned $11 million in its opening weekend, the second chapter’s theatrical release was canceled.
Marty Singer, Mr. Costner’s lawyer, said in a statement that Ms. LaBella’s claims contradicted her own actions and that she was using “shakedown tactics” that would not work. He said the scene in question was explained to Ms. LaBella, who rehearsed it and gave an indication she was willing to film it.
