Kevin Costner Uncovers Hidden ‘Tragic’ Stories in New Docu-Series ‘The West’
‘Yellowstone’ Star Narrates 8-Part History Channel Series Exploring America’s Complex Frontier Past
Kevin Costner continues to share his passion for Western culture with a new generation through his many cowboy-themed projects like Yellowstone, Horizon, and now the History Channel’s The West.
Costner narrates the eight-part documentary series and also serves as an executive producer. During filming, he revealed that he was struck by how overwhelmingly tragic the stories were, with very few happy endings.
“Almost everything I found was tragic. Isn’t that strange? Nearly every story lacked a happy ending,” Costner said. “There were some people who managed to succeed at the expense of others, but those stories were the exception.”
He shared the story of John Colter, often regarded as the first “mountain man.”
“Colter was fascinating to me — a man perfectly suited to the wilderness. While artists and scientists came along on expeditions, Colter hunted for food and used sign language to communicate,” Costner explained. “He was a true mountain man who didn’t want to return to Washington. I felt that deeply — wanting to keep him in the wild. He went on to become responsible for some of the wildest and most incredible stories ever told.”
The series aims to provide a fresh perspective on the epic history of the American West, focusing on the desperate struggle for land and how those conflicts still shape America today.
During production, Costner said he gained a deeper understanding of how settlers displaced Native Americans and imposed their beliefs on indigenous peoples.
“I learned a lot about American history, especially about the missionaries who had to convince people to fund their journeys to the West, only to impose their religion on the native peoples,” Costner said. “As settlers moved across the country, they told natives one story, ‘We just want to pass through.’ Then the story changed to ‘We want your land, your hair, your religion.’ When persuasion failed, violence followed. We murdered them and invented stories to justify it. The land doesn’t even carry its original names anymore — we renamed it after ourselves.”
Joining Costner as an executive producer is Doris Kearns Goodwin.
Costner added, “I’ve always been a sports guy — you know the score, it’s honest. But history, especially the history of the West, is murky. The West was a dangerous place where you had to be resourceful to survive. I think people want to see the truth — how raw and real it was. Am I tough enough to face it?”
Life in the West was harsh, and many settlers lacked the resources or skills to thrive. “They often traveled in groups and sometimes perished together. Their humanity was tested — their worst and best qualities emerged,” Costner reflected.
